Coming down heavily on the Railways ‘large gaps’ in security system at stations, South- Eastern Railways General Manager (GM) Radhey Shyam Sharma has instructed the railway administration to tighten the security measures before upcoming lok Sabha elections.
Sharma sharing the information at a press conference here on Tuesday said, “The back to back untoward incidents within the premises of Ranchi railway station have raised serious concerns on our security arrangements. During elections chances of Naxal attack remains on peak and to keep this upcoming lok Sabha election hassle free for the passengers we have decided to make elaborate arrangements in and around the Railway stations.”
Explaining about the security plans which have been listed on the cards Sharma added, “We have decided to seek help from the Railways Protection Force (RPF) jawans of the adjoining areas. Moreover, as many as 29 CCTV cameras has already been placed at the railway station of the State capital and are planning to increase it number by the end of March. Metal detectors and Sniff dogs will also be used for ensuring railways security.”
However, responding to the query regarding the delay behind boundary wall construction plan on the southern side of the Ranchi Railway station which was announced a couple of months ago, Ranchi Railways Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Deepak Kachyap answered, “We have completed the tender procedure and are planning to soon kick off the construction work. We are hopeful that by the end of this year the plan will be accomplished.”
Besides, security arrangements, the demand of station masters need for walk- talky to establish communication with the locomotive drivers to know the trains running position also got approved by Sharma. He said, “It is a basic tool and we will make it available to them soon.”
Meanwhile, the long pending proposal to increase the operation of Garib Rath also received green signal. Now the Garib Rath (Ranchi- Delhi) which used to ferry passengers two days in a week, will be available for three days in a week from April 1. The train rack will come from Bangalore.