Lapses in basic security in railways is becoming a cause of major concern, with SCR authorities tending to overlook them. There are scanty security personnel and scarcity of essentials like metal detectors, and no security checks at all railways stations. A long-standing proposal to introduce the Integrated Security Management system that includes setting up security cameras, metal detectors, vehicle and baggage scanners, has remained on paper.
Railway officials say more policemen should be visible on platforms, in trains and waiting halls. Screening of passengers at the Kolkata and New Delhi railway stations is quite common, whereas here it is random.
“Protection forces must adopt innovative measures, share their experiences and intelligence to tackle crimes that occur in trains and in railway premises. Coordination for registering a complaint, joint escor-ting of vulnerable express trains, joint patrolling of sabotage prone areas, combined training course for RPF and GRP personnel and strengthening the GRP set-up at railway stations is required,” said a senior SCR official. There are many loose ends that need to be tied up, like having helpline phones, baggage tags, maintaining the records of contract staff working in the trains and construction of fencing in areas prone to trespassing.
All these issues have been discussed in meetings before, but have not been implemented yet.