Positive signs on bad roadmap

The Pune railway station and the three State Transport bus stands at Shivajinagar,Swargate and Pune station,which have been marked as sensitive places under terror shadow in the city,have refused to change for long. But things seem to be changing,finally,with railway authorities and MSRTC officials waking up to initiate some security measures.

The MSRTC officials have decided to install CCTVs at all the three ST bus stands. Two of which are depots — repair and maintenance work is also carried out there. MSRTC’s plan to install CCTVs at the three key bus stands in the city is part of its plan to install CCTVs at other bus stands in the state too. MSRTC managing director Deepak Kapoor said the installation of CCTVs at the three bus stands would begin soon. “The work has been taken up on priority,” he said. MSRTC officials said tenders had been floated for the purpose. “In about a fortnight or so the process of installing CCTVs should begin after the tenders are opened,” said senior officials.

MSRTC has been under fire,especially after the German Bakery blast when it came to light that the suspects had brought explosives from Udgir to Shivajinagar bus stand in a State Transport bus. The suspects had apparently alighted at Shivajinagar bus stand. When a Newsline team checked system in place at the Shivajinagar bus last week,unclaimed bags where found lying at several places,at the entrance,inside the bus,close to the bus. Officials pointed out that there were problems especially on the security front as CCTVs,metal detectors,baggage scanners were missing. “We have no clue when these will be installed,” officials at the Shivajinagar bus stand said. Around 35,000 passengers board and alight at the bus stand which sees movement of over 5,000 buses daily. There are two big points from where buses enter and exit and from the same spot passengers and other vehicles make easy entry and gateway. Officials said they have been demanding separate metal doors for passengers and their luggage which will help in detecting suspicious bags and persons. The situation at other two bus stands — the Swargate and Pune station are no better. In fact,the chaos at Swargate bus stand is most glaring. “There is no security nor any order here,” said Ravindra Asadhe who was heading towards Satara.

Meanwhile,the Pune railway station,which sees thousands of passengers daily — most jammed being the main overbridge,has seen a step in security direction recently. Officials of the Pune division of the Central Railway have decided to stop passengers without valid identity proof to store their luggage in the cloakroom. The Central Railway has also restricted the number of days that passengers can store their luggage in the cloak room from 30 to just seven days. Railway officials said passengers keeping their luggage in the cloak room should produce valid identity proof with photograph,such as PAN card,voter ID card,passport and driving licence. Railway spokesperson Y K Singh said the step has been taken as part of the efforts to tighten up security measures at the railway station. Pune Newsline had recently reported how the luggage movements from platforms and outside are not being adwqautely checked.

S Satyanarayan,a retired income tax officer,says,“I recently witnessed a tense moment at Pune railway station. It was so crowded that anything could have happened. I don’t understand why the railway authorities are not initiating measures to reduce the rush at the station.” Satyanarayan said the local railway authorities need to discuss with experts and come up a plan to decongest the Pune railway station.