Rly yet to sanction more security personnel

Despite the 7/11 serial train bombings of 2006, it took two years and another terror attack for the railway administration to think over the Railway Protection Force8217;s RPF demand for more than 3500 security personnel for guarding Mumbai8217;s railway system. More than two years after the blasts, the Railway Board is yet to give its sanction to increase the size of the RPF forces, but officials are hoping that last month8217;s terror attacks will now help expedite the procedure.

According to RPF officials requesting anonymity, the Central Railway, after the 7/11 blasts had placed a demand for 2500 additional men while the WR had demanded 1104 men, but both are yet to get a nod from the Railway Board. The additional force, RPF officials said, is required not only for Mumbai but also for its satellite cities as they are growing. Central Railway8217;s RPF has an emerging city like Pune to guard while the jurisdiction of the WR8217;s Mumbai division of the RPF extends till Gujarat. The pressure of rising commuters is also felt by the railway security, which is shared by both the state8217;s Government Railway Police GRP and the RPF. 8220;After 7/11, the infrastructure was upgraded to a large extent. Every platform was fitted with a Closed Circuit Camera Television, metal detectors and other equipments. The dog squad was also revived. But the work force issue has remained pending,8221; said a senior RPF official

8220;The proposal has been sent to the Railway Board for clearance and we expect it to be expedited on priority basis,8221; said Ranjit Sinha, Director General, RPF. The railway has allocated Rs 800 crore for the security of railway stations of the four major metros.