Elections: MHA to hire over 100 trains for ferrying forces

New Delhi, March 9: The Home Ministry will use the services of more than 100 trains to transport paramilitary forces for deployment during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In this mammoth exercise, the trains will be used for the speedy movement of forces from one state to another according to election schedule and security considerations.

Nearly, two lakh central paramilitary personnel, in addition to state police forces, are expected to be deployed for the multi-phased Lok Sabha polls which begin on April 7.

Official sources said Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami has already written a letter to the Chairman of Railway Board to provide special trains whenever necessary and special coaches in some trains for smooth movement of security forces. The request has been made following various issues raised by the central paramilitary forces.

Besides, CRPF has requested the ministry to issue instructions to member (traffic), Railway Board, to open a single window system in New Delhi for booking of special trains or splinter coaches for the entire movement which would stretch nearly two months. CRPF has also requested for two sleeper coaches for each company (around 100 personnel) and two coaches with special trains instead of general coaches for smooth mobilisation and comfortable journey of troops.

Sources said the hired trains will be used for long distance transportation of forces while for the shorter distance, the security personnel will travel by roads. CRPF will contribute the highest number of personnel to be deployed in Lok Sabha elections which could be half of the entire paramilitary component.

The BSF is expected to contribute around 28,000 personnel while rest of the forces will come from SSB, ITBP and Assam Rifles among others. The high-stake Lok Sabha elections will be held between April 7 and May 12 on nine days, the highest number of phases so far.

Counting of votes in all the 543 constituencies involving an electorate of 81.4 crore will be done on May 16. Assembly elections will also be held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh, including Telangana region, Odisha and Sikkim.

PTI