Railways puts commando training facility on fast track

The matter had been in a limbo during the previous Left Front government.

The RPF will be able to induct around 1,500 personnel for the first batch of commando training,thereby eventually increasing the strength of the existing commando force by 100 per cent with the first batch itself.

Thereafter,depending on the design of the training programme,sources said that every year the centre would be able to produce over 4,000 commandos. Usually,the standard programme tenure is of 90 days while a more rigorous module is for 270 days.

Once the land is available,the training terrain will have to be built along with other infrastructure needed for the centre.

Due to the absence of a dedicated commando training facility,the RPF has been able to churn out only about 1,500 commandos in two years.

The slow pace is thanks to its dependency on

the availability of training slots in the commando training programmes of the armed forces.

The Railways had sanctioned Rs 26.7 crore last year for the project,but due to the delay in the land acquisition process the concern within the establishment was that the project cost would escalate.

Once ready,the force would help secure passengers and properties in troubled regions,including the ones affected by Maoist threat.

It would also have regular deployment,enhancing the RPFs capabilities of combating critical threats such as terrorist attacks on railway properties.