GRP to deploy 200 MSSC guards for better security

Mumbai: In a bid to provide better security to women co muters, Government  Rail-way Police (GRP) will replace Home Guards (HG) with 200 guards from the Maharashtra State Security Commission (MSSC).

The GRP has been allotted 200 MSSC guards as the railway police security apparatus was taking hits over the inconsistency of home guards. Though an equal number of home guards had been provided to the GRP, their availability was a problem and their numbers kept fluctuating. A GRP officer said, “Home guards work on a paltry honorarium and it’s like serving society. They are not on the payroll of either the state or us and hence, their numbers keep fluctuating. During festivals like Ganpati and Diwali, most of them go on leave and the deployment schedule takes a hit.”

The deployment schedule in terms of escort duty in ladies coaches used to be at the mercy of how many home guards turned up to work that particular day. Escort duty is from 9pm to 6am in all ladies coaches and home guards were being deployed in the middle ones, officials said.

Niket Kaushik, GRP commissioner, said, “The MSSC guards will replace the home guards and their deployment will be done accordingly. They have already joined us and the engagement is initially for a period of three months.”

The MSSC guards will be armed with a baton, the officials said.