The Beach-Tambaram section continues to the most vulnerable to crimes and security personnel attribute it to the huge volume of passenger traffic.
In a bid to strengthen security on this section, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has proposed installation of CCTV cameras in two major railway stations. “St Thomas Mount and Tirusulam railway stations would be brought under CCTV coverage and the latter will become a major transit point in South Chennai,” S R Gandhi, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Chennai Division said.
There is a rise in number of crimes on trains in Chennai Division this year. However, the detection rate has also subsequently increased, reveals a data sourced by CE . According to the data, 79 cases were registered between January and May 2013, while only 54 cases were reported during the same period (January to May) of 2012, on sections of the Chennai Division. The division comprises railway stations in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and parts of Arakkonam.
Forty eight cases pertained to stealing of gold ornaments, while 22 were of mobile phone thefts. “Victims report the theft to the nearest station after they come to know about it. This could be one possible reason for the spurt in reporting of crime cases in stations falling under the Chennai Division,” an officer with railway security said.
For example, a passenger commutes from Coimbatore to Chennai by train. He discovers that his baggage or belongings are stolen during the course of the journey at Arakkonam and he may report it either at Arakkonam or Chennai Central, which falls under the Chennai Division. “But one should also take notice of the high detection rate, as 55 cases were cracked,” the officer said.