Railway Ministry gives green signal to security plans

New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) Giving a cutting edge to its plans to strengthen security, the Railway Ministry has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) for installing 'Integrated Security System' over 100 stations, identified as vulnerable.

A ministry official said the proposed integrated security system would include CCTV surveillance system with a minimum of 30 days'recording facility and inbuilt intelligent softwares like motion detector alarm, image identification, intrusion detection, image tracking and traffic density monitoring.

The official said the other components of the security system are electronic access control, personal and baggage screening system, Deep Search Metal Detectors and scanners and explosive detection and disposal system.

The installation of security gadgets would be on outright purchase basis or through Public Private Partnership (PPP) on BOOT (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) basis.

He said the companies or consortia which are interested in participating in this project would have to ensure that the entire system is upgradable in tune with future technologies.

A total of 185 stations, including 17 metro stations, have been identified as vulnerable, where security system is proposed to be substantially upgraded on a priority basis.

The official said some of these stations, including Delhi Main, New Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Chandigarh, Ambala, Moradabad, Hardwar, Lucknow and Varanasi, are highly sensitive and vulnerable from security point of view.

He said while access control had been introduced in coordination with the Government Railway Police (GRP), communication system of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) was being improved by providing mobile phones, walkie-talkies and Very High Frequency (VHF) sets.

There is also a plan to provide bullet-proof jackets and helmets to the RPF personnel.

He, however, denied that wireless Internet services would be provided free of cost to passengers in the high-end trains, like Rajdhanis and Shatabdis.

The official said a sum of Rs. 121.63 crore had been allocated for sanctioned proposals during the financial year 2007-08.

MORE UNI SKS YA GC1115