Finally,a bullet-proof plan to secure CST

The raised platform surveillance posts will give a bird’s eye view of the suburban and mail/express trains at CST. These state-of-the-art machans will be equipped with all modern arms so that RPF personnel may be in position to open fire on terrorists if the situation arises. The RPF has sent its proposal to Central Railway (CR).

P C Sinha,CR’s senior divisional security commissioner,said they have got the proposal.

A senior RPF officer said senior officials were working on designing the machans over one-and-a-half months. The RPF has studied photo and video records to finalise the spot for machans from where maximum surveillance can be carried out.

“At the RPF level,locations of the bullet-proof machans have been fixed and meetings are on with many companies who are coming forward for selling such machans,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

“One machan will be installed near the entry of platform no. 14 and the other in the concourse hall of the suburban section. Most of the officials agree on these locations,” he added.

In fact,after the 2008 attacks,Western and Central Railway both prepared high hidden points within stations so that policemen could take on terrorists. “These hidden points were not sufficient though security at stations has been geared up to face any type of attack. The CCTV camera network at CST has been improved and if bullet-proof machans are installed,no terrorist will dare enter CST,” said an RPF officer.

“The CST scenario has changed completely from what happened three years ago. That incident cannot be repeated now. At present,the police are well-equipped with modern arms,” Sinha said. However,CST still lacks multi-zone door frame metal detectors and multi-zone explosive detectors supported by X-ray scanner machines. “Also,there is no cabin at CST where thorough checks may be done,” said one officer.

Even the parcel house at CST has no X-ray machine. “There is a need to enhance security measures near platform number 17 and 18 as there is a lot of open place. It is still a threat to the security of CST,” he added.