Railway cops to regulate entry and exit points at 11 CR stations

Mumbai: In a bid to regulate the entry and exit points at the stations, the Railway Police Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) have identified 11 Central Railways (CR) stations with 27 unauthorised entry and exit points.

The Railways has been trying to find ways to make sure that railway stations are not as vulnerable as the CST was when the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba’s 10 gunmen, including Ajmal Kasab, had attacked it in November 2008.

The Railways has selected Kurla, Thane, Kalyan, Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Diva, Ghatkopar, Karjat, Vashi and Panvel stations. Although these stations collectivity have 91 authorised exit and entry points, the unauthorised entry and exit points have been a cause for concern. The officials are unable to find a solution as there is almost no tool available to monitor lakhs of commuters on the platform.

The GRP and RPF on Thursday decided that the police presence will be increased particularly on the 27 unauthorised entry and exit points.

After reviewing the number of personnel at these stations, the agencies have found severe lacunae. Currently, there is only one personnel manning the main hall at LTT, Dadar, Thane and Kalyan while there is no one at the vital access points at Kurla, Vashi, Panvel, Vadala, Diva, Ghatkopar and Karjat.

The data in a report presented at the meeting has also revealed that people who board long-distance trains at LTT station use unauthorised points and the main entrance that lies along the Chunnabhatti-Kurla highway is not frequently used by the commuters. There is no boundary wall available near the main entrance.