CCTVs, smart cameras at key stations

New Delhi: Close on the heels of last week’s terror attacks on Samjhauta Express, railway minister Lalu Prasad has announced a number of steps to strengthen security , including installation of CCTVs and smart video cameras , at sensitive stations.
The government has also decided to install explosive detection devices, door-frame and hand-held metal detectors for a number of trains plying through sensitive divisions, besides increasing the number of trained dog-squads.

Other than the two trains between India and Pakistan — Samjhauta and Thar Express, additional security arrangements will also been made for Mumbai suburban trains, which too were the target of terror attacks in July last year.

The Mumbai suburban services will now have an integrated security and surveillance system. RPF personnel are being given intensive training to increase their expertise and efficiency.

Though he did not specify which divisions have been identified as sensitive ones, home ministry officials later said that the plan was to enhance security on all routes falling in communally sensitive, terror-prone and Naxal-affected areas.

Lalu said the railways did not have a “magic wand” to get wind of any plot to attack trains and would have to depend on intelligence inputs. Each compartment of the Indo-Pakistan friendship trains would have one TTE and at least two RPF personnel.