The Hindu

• Palghat division of Southern Railways has initiated action to set up baggage screening system 
• ‘Site security plan’ survey under way
• Sniffer dog squad being trained at Poddanur academy in Coimbatore

Mangalore, Dec 10: The terror attacks on the Chatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminus in Mumbai have served as a wake-up call for the Southern Railways as it has started beefing up the security arrangements in railway stations under its command. As part of its efforts in this direction, the Mangalore City Central Railway Station is set for a major security revamp by the Palghat Division of the Southern Railways.

Acting on the Railway Board’s guidelines for the implementation of an “Integrated Security System”, the authorities are conducting surveys for setting up Close Circuit Television (CCTVs) cameras, tightening the control over access to the railway station, and for identifying locations to install a personal baggage and explosive screening system. The surveys, “site security plan”, are being conducted to decide on the type of equipment required to be installed at the railway station and to take up the civil and other associated works before finalising the proposal.

In addition, a sniffer dog squad for bomb detection is being developed at the Poddanur Training Academy of the Railway Protection Force in Coimbatore, according to divisional Security Commissioner Jyothi Kumar Satija.

The integrated security system project forms part of the Railways’ Budget presented in February. Sources in the Palghat divisional office said that the project, which was gathering dust for most part of the year, had gained momentum after the Mumbai attacks.

“The system will be operational in a year. Some systems may come up even before that,” he said and added that there were no immediate plans to make similar security arrangements in the Mangalore Junction (Kankanady) Railway Station.

Mr. Satija said that every corner the railway station would be covered by the sophisticated CCTV cameras, which would be capable of automatically aiding crowd management, identifying left-over baggage and detecting intruders. An automatic vehicle scanner, placed at vehicle entry points, would be connected to the CCTV system.

The wall around the station would be raised to six feet and a nearly two-feet high barbed wire fencing would be raised on its top to prevent unauthorised entry into the railway station.

The secondary entry and exit point at the station is likely to be closed, according to local authorities.

However, if the Government released funds for setting up a surveillance equipment there, the secondary access might be reopened and converted into a formal access point on a future date, the sources said.

Only one X-ray baggage scanner, similar to the ones in airports, would be provided initially and increased with the opening of new entry points in the future. For individual screening of passengers the RPF personnel would be provided with hand-held metal detectors, besides door-frame metal detectors, the sources said.

The explosive detection process would be handled with the help of sniffer dogs and electronic detectors. Mr. Satija said that the “Explosive vapour detector”, which was portable and easy-to-handle, had been recommended.