IIT to carry out security audit of Delhi station

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) The government today said the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi had been assigned the task of carrying out a security audit of Delhi Main railway station to prepare a composite security plan.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Railways R Velu said it was a pilot project and was part of a proposal to revamp the security arrangement at major railway stations in Northern Railway.

Mr Velu said it was for the first time that such a project had been assigned to the IIT, Delhi by the Railways.

The terms and conditions specified by the IIT for taking up this project have been accepted by the Railways and a Liaison Officer has already been nominated from the Railways for day to day co-ordination.

He said further action would be taken by the Railways on receipt of the report.

Replying to another query, the minister said the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC), which is the nodal agency for booking of tourists for the 'Palace on Wheels' train, had registered 7380 requests and out of these 4120 were confirmed bookings up to April 30th, 2009.

He said the RTDC and the Railways Ministry had decided to introduce second 'Palace on Wheels' train to run on the same sector to cater to the demand of foreign and domestic tourists.

''No time-frame has been set for the launch of the train.

However, as and when the rake is ready to run, the train will be put in operation,'' he told the Lower House.

UNI