The Railway Protection Force (RPF), an Armed Force of the Union under Ministry of Railways, is presently supplementing the efforts of the respective state governments in combating terrorist, naxalites and other disruptive activities over Indian Railways.
Although the maintenance of the law and order and to tackle the problem of terrorists, naxalites attacks and other disruptive activities over India Railways is the responsibility of the state government coordinated through Government Railway Police (GRP). However, RPF is supplementing the GRP to tackle such problems; this was stated by the Minister of State for Ministry of Railways, Dr R Velu in Rajya Sabha today.
Preventive security
Velu said the government has initiated the following measures for strengthening of RPF viz: RPF/RPSF staff have been deployed at important stations and in trains and briefed to be prepared to tackle any situation. Staffs have been put on alert to prevent such incidents.
In addition, GRP and State Police have also been asked to strengthen the security arrangements at Railway stations and in trains. Close coordination with state police and Intelligence agencies have been maintained to share information of such acts.
The government has allocated Rs. 60.76 crore for procurement of modern security equipment for RPF. It has also allocated Rs. 14.26 crore for procurement of vehicles for RPF.
Integrated Security System
The government has implemented an Integrated Security System over all the railway stations of four metro cities viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and also for 140 other sensitive and vulnerable railway stations of the country, Velu said.
The above system consists of following four broad areas – IP based CCTV surveillance System; Access Control; Personal and Baggage Screening System and Bomb Detection and Disposal System.
Velu mentioned that RPF has been upgraded with modern weaponry and security gadgets like INSAS 5.56 mm rifles, AK-47, SLR 7.62 mm, carbine 9 mm, pistol 9 mm, bullet proof jackets and helmets, walkie-talkie, hand-held metal detectors, door frame metal detectors, etc.
Meanwhile, it has been proposed to give commando training to two RPSF battalions and deployment of trained staff at strategic locations. It has also been proposed to raise three additional Battalions of RPSF.
Although there is no separate head for security purposes, funds are being made available for the procurement of security equipments and modernization and strengthening of the Railway Protection Force from appropriate heads of account like works programme, machinery and plants (M&P) head, passenger amenity head etc. Allocation of funds for security purposes is made as per requirement, he added.
