RailEnquiry

Finally, the authorities concerned have been kind enough to pay attention to the Mangalore Central Railway Station and started the work on the installation of the long pending Integrated Security System (ISS).

It was on the backdrop of increasing terror attacks across the country, Central Railway Ministry had decided to install ISS at major stations, and Mangalore Central and Kozhikode were picked for the same under Southern Railway Palghat division. Internet protocol based CC TV system, a control room for access control, personal and baggage screening system with metal detectors, under-vehicle scanner and the bomb detection and disposal system come under ISS, all at a cost of Rs 3.4 crore. Though Major Railway stations were allotted with ISS at the same time, the new system started functioning at Kozhikode in January 2013 leaving Mangalore in the dark. However, two weeks ago, NELCO, the private company in Hyderabad which has been entrusted with the installation work, has started fixing closed circuit cameras in Central station. “Out of the 48 CC Cameras allotted to Mangalore, we have already fixed 26 along three platforms.

Now we are waiting for vehicle scanner to come from Trichy to install. All other equipment have already reached here. By June, the entire work will be completed and ready for inauguration,” K Vinod, Project Manager of NELCO, told Deccan Herald.

Screening of commuters, luggages

While parcel scanner will be installed at parcel office, luggage scanner and door frame metal detector will be placed at the entrance to screen train commuters and their baggages. The big parcel scanner had reached Mangalore some 10 months ago and since then it had been put near ticket counter with no one to take care of. Some passengers had taken it as a support to sit and relax. Mangalore Central Station Railway Protection Force Circle Inspector A P Venu told Deccan Herald that all the equipment were received after obtaining clearance from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in Lucknow.

No closure of illegal entries?

Meanwhile, the four illegal entries to central station, which has always been pointed out as a security threat will continue to exist even after the functioning of new system, sources in the railways said. Railway authorities were of the opinion that they can’t close those entries as commuters are using it, but can only put checking system there.

DH News Service