Still waiting for CISF to take over,Port Trust works alone

The CISF handles the security of all other major ports and it was decided that it would take over Mumbai Port from March 2009. The induction has been delayed by the absence of sanction from various Central departments.

The proposal is finally through and the MbPT is making arrangements for 526 CISF personnel at Hay Bunder and Nadkarni Park,Wadala. MbPT chief security officer R N Shaikh said,“We expect that by March 2010,the CISF will take over the security system.”

It would be in phases; in the first phase,Jawhar Dweep and Pir Pau island (that handle bulk and oil cargoes) would be handed over. The CISF would subsequently move to the docks. The MbPT will spend about Rs 14 crore on the salaries of CISF personnel and about Rs 3 crore on their equipment and logistics annually.

“We have closed down several gates for vehicular traffic to control access to the port. Now we have the Orange Gate of Princess Dock for truck traffic and the Yellow Gate of Indira Dock for passenger vehicles,” Shaikh said. In the past,private cars would trespass,using the dock area to avoid traffic on arterial roads.

“Now we have a quick response team and a better network of CCTVs,” he said,“We plan to procure four boats,including a speedboat. Our launches and tugs carry armed policemen. We are also replacing our vessel traffic management system with a state-of-the-art system at about Rs 23 crore. It will help us monitor the movement of even small boats up to 96 nautical miles. The new system will be in place by November next year.”

At present,573 port security personnel and around 500 police personnel (from the Yellow Gate,Sewree and Wadala police stations) look after port security. The MbPT spends about Rs 12 crore on the police and Rs 12.60 crore on its own security personnel. After the CISF takes over,the police would not be required for watch and ward,while the MbPT security personnel (about 550) would be redeployed elsewhere.