Title - 2 teams of GRP commandos to guard Jammu railway station

Jammu:
The local railway station is now under round-the-clock protection of two “battle-hardened” commando teams of the Government Railway Police (GRP). The commandos have also been armed with sophisticated AK series weapons.The authorities have also installed 16 CCTV cameras, four X-ray machines and deployed sniffer dogs at one of Northern India’s busiest railway stations that witnesses arrival and departure of 60 trains and an average footfall of 80,000 everyday.IGP Railways, Dr Kamal Saini, said, “Besides regular deployment of constables, two commando teams comprising 16 commandos of the GRP and equipped with AK series weapons, guard the station 24x7.”Similarly, 16 CCTV cameras keep an eye on the passengers while four new X-ray machines have also been installed to scan luggage,” he added.He said the railways have also been advised to construct a compound wall at the railway station.“We have already removed encroachments from the periphery of the railway station and from Kathua and Udhampur stations as well,” he said.

“Manpower shortage is a common problem in almost every sphere and we are no exception but we at the GRP make the best of the available resources, which is possible only by deploying the right people at the right place as well as effective supervision. We believe in quality and not quantity,” the IGP said.

“We deploy dedicated and devoted staff on key posts and keep shuffling our deployment depending upon security scenario,” he said.

“Though the Katra railway station has not been commissioned yet, but we have already set up a GRP station there,” he added.

He said the 17-km long railway track between Banihal and Qazigund having a tunnel of over 11 km is likely to be made operational next month. Known as Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, it is India's longest and Asia’s third longest railway tunnel. China's Taihang Tunnel (28 km) is the longest and Wushaoling Tunnel (21 km) comes at the second place.

The tunnel is equipped with the state-of-the-art air quality monitoring system, ventilation system, communication system, fire fighting system and emergency rescue system in case of an emergency.

The tunnel’s average elevation at 1,760 m (5,770 ft) is 440 m (1,440 ft) beneath the existing road tunnel.

“Orders to deploy constables have already been issued to guard this strategic stretch,” he said.

The IGP, however, felt that the absence of barracks, offices and duty hutments along the railway track from Lakahanpur in Kathua district to Katra in Reasi district continued to give a tough time to the GRP constables, who had to live in tents.

“The matter has been taken up with the railways and we hope to get the basic infrastructural facilities for our personnel soon,” he said.

He said the GRP was being assisted by the Special Police Officers and Indian Reserve Police constables to protect and secure rail network in the state.

The state, as of today, has 421 km of railway tracks from Ravi Bridge in Lakhanpur to Baramulla, out of which 253 km is operational from Lakhanpur to Udhampur in Jammu region and Qazigund to Baramulla in Kashmir Valley. “A 168 km long track from Udhampur to Qazigund is yet to be made operational. There are 90 railway bridges and 20 rail tunnels from Kathua to Baramulla,” he said.

ON A SECURE TRACK

* The railway authorities have also installed 16 CCTV cameras, four X-ray machines and deployed sniffer dogs at the railway station

* Two commando teams with 16 members of the GRP each have been armed with AK series weapons

* The railways have been advised to build a compound wall at the railway station