Integrated security plan okayed for three railway stations

Apart from the procurement of sophisticated security equipment, a novelty will be the introduction of vehicle scanners to monitor the movement of all vehicles entering and leaving the railway stations.

The proposed ‘Integrated Security Plan’ will cover the stations of Bangalore, Yeshwantpur and Mysore. Elaborating on it, Chief Security Commissioner (CSC), SWR Division, Subash Chandra Sinha, said that a sum of Rs two crore had been sanctioned for the Division recently in this connection. “The plan will make a marked difference towards upgradation of security in these stations,” he said. 

Hand-held metal detectors, bomb detectors, luggage scanners, bomb disposal equipment, more closed circuit TV cameras and vehicle scanners will be purchased under this plan. “Scanning of vehicles is a novel upgradation to our security plan and is aimed at checking for explosives,” he said.

Tenders to procure all these equipment have already been called for. “The total sum will be released in phases over a three-year period,” Sinha added.
CCTVs have been in existence at the three stations in a limited manner already. However, the new plan will put in place a comprehensive, IT-based monitoring system.
“We are yet to decide whether to shift the existing surveillance cameras to minor stations and install new ones or incorporate them with the proposed system,” the CSC stated.

The City station has 41 cameras at present and they are kept track of by the RPF. They were inaugurated in March 2006. Yeshwantpur station has ten cameras. Both the stations are monitored through a centralised control room on Platform Five of the City station. As per the new plan, the City station has been sanctioned more than 100 cameras.

“There are too many entry and exit points in the City station and it is impossible to seal all of them,” Sinha said. The only alternative is to closely monitor all of them and record the happenings. All platforms, circulating area, Passenger Reservation System and parking bays will be strictly monitored.

The joint monitoring of these two stations will continue. Mysore has a couple of surveillance cameras at present and more cameras (number not yet decided) will be added to it.

RPF shortage
However, the shortage of Railway Police Force (RPF), a major issue in all stations in the State, persists.

“We have written to the Board to provide us with 1,000 more staff, which is absolutely vital to enhance security. That is still pending,” Subash Chandra informed.
All the stations in the State have been instructed to enhance vigil in view of the rush at stations due to the approaching festival season.