Central Railway to close two gates at CST

Mumbai: The Central Railway (CR) plans to close two entry/exit gates at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) — the ones near the parcel office and platform number one — because of security concerns and inadequate number of security personnel to monitor the terminus’ 11 gates. Fewer visitors pass through the two gates in question compared to the rest, according to railway sources.

The success or failure of the experiment will decide if the same is to be carried out at other stations. The decision comes a day after Union minister Suresh Prabhu met with city railway officials regarding station redevelopment. Officials said the plan is suitable for peak hour crowds, but feel that the issue of security is not being taken seriously.

Officials feel that CST, which had been targeted by terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Ismail Khan — who were among the 10 gunmen sent to the city from a place near Karachi by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba in November 2008, is far too vulnerable due to its multiple entry and exit points. An official said, “CST has 11 entry/exit gates and we as a police force have limited manpower. As a result, we have not been able to monitor each of these gates.” He added, “The parcel gate and the gate located on platform no. 1 near the ticket collector’s (TC) gates usually see less footfall. We can shut them for the sake of security, which is of paramount importance.”

Kasab had entered CST from the gate that is right in front of the taxi stand in the outstation section of the station. He is said to have shot most of the 52 people at this very spot and made his way to suburban platform no.1, which sees Harbour line trains. Officials from the Railway Police Force (RPF) as well as Government Railway Police (GRP) feel that with the wave of station re-development the Railways has forgotten about this issue. A senior official said, “The GRP has recommended that Railways shut some of CST’s gates permanently for security reasons. But the Railways has said that the throw of passengers at the CST is so high that the decision might backfire.”

Officials from both forces feel they should be included while planning the redevelopment of the five stations (CST, Thane, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Bandra and Andheri) that were fast tracked by Mr Prabhu in the meeting on Wednesday.