Railways pump in Rs 250-cr to beef up security

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Mumbai: Following the Mumbai terror attacks, the Central Railways has decided to install a Rs 230 crore Integrated Safety System to beef up security and ensure safety in every area.

"We will try to make our railways as safe as possible and have planned an Integrated Safety System at a cost of Rs 230 crore to handle all aspects of safety," CR General Manager B B Modgil said in Mumbai on Friday.

The project could be implemented on the build-operate - own-transfer (BOOT) model and the Railway Board has suggested that a portion of advertising rights on the railways could be given to the provider of the security system as payment, he said.

"We will be floating the Expression of Interest documents soon to assess the interest in the market but if there is none then we would have to consider trying to pay for the project," Modgil said.

The system was being developed on the model proposed by several security agencies and had various components, including access control, baggage screening and a network of closed circuit cameras, Inspector General (RPF) B S Siddhu said.

"We are also identifying points of unauthorised access on the railways and will be putting up fences to bring an end to it," he said.

The busy Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) station was one of the targets of the terrorists in the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26 last year.

The Central Railways was also carrying out a feasibility study to convert nine-coach rakes into 12-coach ones on the suburban Harbour Line, senior officials said.

Due to this, there would be a need to extend platforms at multiple stations on the line but the move was expected to greatly augment carrying capacity on trains, they said.

The frequency of trains on the Harbour line was also sought to be increased by reorganising the spacing of signals, officials said.

Central Railway authorities also announced the increase in suburban rail services from 1,372 to 1,410. The number of 12-car rakes will also be increased from 409 to 436 with effect from January 27.