SER announces composite security plans for passengers safety

Kolkata, Nov 26 (UNI) Disclosing his composite security plans for the safety and security of passengers and their belongings, Chief Security Commissioner, RPF, South-Eastern Railway (SER) A K Singh here today announced to implement integrated security system.

Addressing a press conference here, he said in view of the serial bomb blasts at Mumbai sub-urban railway station and terrorist attack on Railways in different parts of the country, a high-level committee was constituted by the Ministry of Railways on the line of the Rakesh Mohan Committee for public safety to study existing security system of the Indian Railways and suggest ways and means to improve the security.

Accordingly, a composite security plan was suggested by the committee, which identified Kharagpur, Tatanager, Ranchi, Bokaro, Rourkela, Adra, Midnapore, Purulia, Muri, Jharsuguda and Chakradharpur as sensitive railway stations, based on the assesment in consultation with the state and Central Intelligence agencies, he said.

Mr Singh further elaborated that the Ministry of Railways in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Intelligence Bureau had decided to implement integrated security system at these 11 vulnerable stations of the SER.

Major components of the system included Close Circuit Television (CCTV) with intelligent software for the first time in SER, sniffer dogs, personal and baggage screening system and explosive detection and disposal system, he informed.

All these stations will be equipped with electronic surveillance system, bomb disposal and detection squad, hand held and door frame metal detectors, x-ray baggage scanners and quick response teams to meet any terrorist threat effectively, he said, adding ten sniffer dogs had already been deployed at different stations in SER and 12 more will be inducted soon after eight months training in Delhi and Podonaur near Coimbatore.

Mr Singh informed that the SER will spend Rs 60 crore for providing effective security with special trainning to the RPF deployed at these stations in handling integrated security system.

Elaborating on the threat posed by proscribed Maoist in West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand, he said the security arrangements at armouries had been reviewed and beefed up as close co-ordination with the state government, GRP and the Central and state intelligence agencies was maintained to know the movements and plans of the ultra outfit in advance and to take timely action for the protection of railway property and passengers.

The Commissioner stated that state government in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa had been requested to increase the presence of CRPF and police in the sensitive areas like Mahadevsal in Jharkhand and Salboni in West Bengal.

He said a co-ordination meeting of these states, scheduled for December 8, will discuss the security concerns.

All the measures suggested are expected to be implemented by March 2009, Mr Singh added.

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