
BANGALORE: The security arrangements at Bangalore City railway station have glaring loopholes - the metal detectors at entrances do not work, no security personnel mans the entrances and even if these things are in place, one can carry banned substance in the premises through an eatery, which has become a thoroughfare.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) authorities have put up doorframe metal detectors at the entry points to detect if people are carrying any banned item. These are out of order since last few months. Also, RPF personnel are supposed to be present near the entrance. When Express went to the railway station, not even a single RPF employee was seen at the entry and exit points.
Further, one can carry banned items inside the railway station through a food plaza, Comesum. People can enter the first floor of the eatery from outside the railway station, without getting their luggage checked. The door on the ground floor of the eatery opens inside the railway station.
"The food plaza has become a cause of concern for railway authorities as well as police. There is none to keep an eye on ticketless travellers and antisocial elements who are misusing the plaza", a railway police inspector said on condition of anonymity.
A RPF officer said a battalion of RPF personnel, which had been deputed at Bangalore City railway stations for long time, was withdrawn and deputed to West Bengal two months ago. It was learnt that out of 80 RPF employees, 24 had been deputed to Bihar for election duty. The railway station needs 50 more RPF employees to ensure proper security.
G Nityananda, Assistant Security Commissioner, RPF, said efforts were being made to get the defunct doorframe metal detectors repaired. He said they had invited tenders to take up the repair work. He said he hoped the process would get over within 15 days.
He added that the RPF was doing its duty effectively. He informed RPF men were manning 40 surveillance cameras at the station. He said in case of any emergency, the RPF men would be sent to the spot immediately.
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