Sir,

Recent e-mails on security of trains during night journey is due to lack of security in Railway Stations. It is very vaguely secured and monitored. Mysuru for example is totally insecure from CFTRI side. Anyone can walk down from CFTRI or down the track into Railway Station and get into trains.

I had a bad experience when my bag was robbed 10 years back which consisted only of books and my ID card and which was left in the Anjaneya Temple near CFTRI. Priest of the temple called me up and said that my bag was found in the temple.

Increase in the platforms results in loosening of security. It should all be monitored in CCTVs and within coaches, on the walkways, CCTV cameras should be installed and monitored by the recently launched Train Captains.

The concept of monitoring Railways by Railway Police is a very old concept. Private security should be put at the platforms just like done in Bengaluru Metro Station. CCTV monitoring should also be done by private security.

Some of the Stations which do not have proper connectivity should be closed and shifted to nearby well connected location. For instance, Nayandanahalli in Bengaluru does not have any proper connectivity to main road and people have to walk in dark lit area. A new Station close to Ring Road would enhance connectivity and safety.

Similarly in Mysuru, Ashokapuram Station does not have any connectivity, one has to walk in dark till main road. A halt Station at J.P. Nagar last bus stop which is busy most of the times and not isolated along with bus connectivity would be a better choice.

An overall safety assessment should be done by a private security auditing agency all over India. Loopholes and best practices should be listed out. Age old Railway Police concept will not work out today.

– Vasanth, Mysuru, 14.8.2018

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