Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120352930300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Khammam

Railway station lacks adequate security

Staff Reporter

Door frame metal detector, installed a few months ago, vanishes suddenly

KHAMMAM: A door frame metal detector (DFMD), installed at the Khammam railway station a few months ago, is not seen in its place these days. It was sanctioned at a time when it was considered to be one of the sensitive stations in security point of view. The Railways had also planned installation of CCTV cameras in the station. But all of a sudden the authorities seem to have realised that the Khammam railway station would do without the special security arrangements.

The DFMD vanished suddenly from the main entrance. Officers of the railways pleaded their ignorance about it. But a senior official has informed that the need of the DFMD was felt at Rail Nilayam and hence it was shifted to Secunderabad.

He justified the act saying that Khammam station has many entry points and one DFMD would not be of any use.

“We need to plug all the paths used by the people to gain access to the railway station and the exercise would be taken up very soon. Orders have been placed by the South Central Railways for more number of DFMDs and the Khammam station would soon have it.”

Cable work

Enquired about the CCTV cameras, the officials were prompt in their response. The workmen were found laying the cables for installation of the CCTV cameras. But they are not enough to ensure foolproof security, according to the officials. The RPF station at Khammam, which required at least 20 men, has been functioning with skeletal staff.

Security checks, which are often taken up by the civil police on the roads of the main town in the wake of incidents such as the Mumbai attacks, are seldom experienced in the Khammam railway station.