CHENNAI: In order to ensure the safety of women passengers in trains and railway stations, an all women squad - ‘Mahila Vahini’ - will soon be inducted to the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
This comes in the wake of the murder of Infosys employee, S Swathi, in Nungambakkam railway station last month, which brought under scrutiny existing safety measures including the absence of CCTV cameras and security personnel.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, RPF Inspector General and Chief Security Commissioner, S C Parhi said the recruitment for one company of Mahila Vahini, comprising about 140 personnel was currently being done by authorities at South Central Railway. Then, they would be deputed to Southern Railway.
With a total strength of just 4200 personnel, RPF is safeguarding 730 odd stations falling under the Southern Railway zone. Manpower shortage in railway police has emerged as a significant issue, he added.
Yet, he denied that as a constraint in ensuring security. Now, a proposal has been placed for one supplementary company of Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF). “Already we had one company of RPSF, but after the murder of IT techie Swathi, we have requested for another company,” he said.