In the wake of the twin bomb blasts at Dilsukhnagar last month, the AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is planning to upgrade security measures at all bus stations in the state at a cost of Rs 1 crore.
According to sources, bus stations in Hyderabad and other sensitive and disturbed areas will get priority in this security initiative.
According to the proposals prepared by RTC director of vigilance & security A Venkateswara Rao and submitted to the APSRTC management, CCTV cameras will be set up at bus stations, covering open and parking places for round-the-clock monitoring. Additional security personnel will be posted. Security checks will be more frequent and door-frame metal detectors will be set up at all important bus stations. Besides, visitors will be frisked and baggage will be scanned with hand-held metal detectors.
At present, 28 CCTV cameras are functioning at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) at Imliban in Hyderabad. Sixty-six more will be installed there. Besides, 60 cameras are proposed to be installed at the Jubilee Bus Station in Secunderabad, Dilsukhnagar, Patancheru, Koti, ECIL, Rathifile and Charminar bus stations, according to APSRTC executive director fir Greater Hyderabad.
He said eight hand-held metal detectors (HHMDs) are presently in use at MGBS, and 39 more will be acquired for use at the eight bus stations in the twin cities. The strength of security staff will be increased from 127 to 260.
The executive director said supervisors, accompanied by securitymen, will patrol the platforms to keep an eye on suspicious people and unaccompanied luggage.