All important stations to ve covered under Bomb Detection Plan

New Delhi, July 27 (UNI) Chastened by the July 11 terror attacks on the Mumbai suburban rail system, the government today informed the Lok Sabha that all the important stations would be covered under the Bomb Detection Plan.

''Instructions have been issued recently to all Zonal Railways to procure bomb detection equipment and Close Circuit Television (CCTVs) cameras for installation on important stations,'' Minister of State for Railways R. Velu told the Lower House in a written reply.

Many of the Railways already have hand-held metal detectors and dog squads, he informed.

Two additional companies of the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) had been deployed in Mumbai (Central and Western Railways) after the recent blasts, Mr Velu said, adding that additional force had been mobilised to Mumbai from adjoining divisions in Western and Central Railways.

CCTVs at 11 Railway stations in Mumbai have been installed to keep surveillance in railway premises. In addition, 22 Railway Protection Force (RPF) sniffer dogs are at present deployed to conduct anti-sabotage checking in Mumbai.

Intensive publicity and public awareness campaign has been launched to educate passengers to remain vigilant against unidentified suspicious objects lying inside coaches and on platforms and report these to Government Railway Police (GRP), RPF and Railway officials.

Further, RPF staff have also been provided with Hand Held Metal Detectors to conduct checking at Railway stations.Close liaison with GRP and State Police is being maintained to provide effective security to passengers and passenger area.

He said the proposal to provide additional manpower, modern security devices/gadgets and additional legal powers to RPF were under consideration at different levels.

Steps are also being taken to upgrade RPF Training centres with a view to improving quality of training. A comprehensive intelligence-orientation programme for the RPF is already under way.

UNI/SKS RP PC1728