Title - Coming soon: CCTV cameras at Sec 17 rail reservation centre

With an aim of keeping a check on touts and an eye on working of its staff, CCTV cameras will soon be installed at the rail reservation centre in Sector 17. The cameras have already been installed at the reservation centre at the Chandigarh Railway Station. A proposal is on the anvil to get other busy stations in the region under the ambit of cameras.

The CCTV cameras are being monitored by the General Manager, Northern Railways, as well as Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala Division. In case they notice any irregularity, they give a call to the officials at the Chandigarh Railway Station to get the problem sorted out.

DRM P K Sanghi says, “The cameras enable us to keep a check on the problem of touts. In case any person at the reservation counter is not working properly or the people waiting there are not being attended to, this can be taken care of. It’s like a surprise inspection. There is a proposal to install cameras at other busy stations in the region like Bathinda as well. The aim is to ensure that the people getting tickets booked are not delayed or harassed.”

Around 30 CCTV cameras were installed at different locations at the railway station. There is a proposal to increase the number to enhance security here. The lax security at the station has been an issue of concern.

Several proposals for the uplift of the railway station have been mooted over the past few weeks since local MP Pawan Bansal has taken over as the Railway Minister. General Manager, Northern Railways, V K Gupta had also inspected the station on Monday.

A proposal has been prepared for extension of the platform shelters. This would provide more area for the passengers who have to wait for their trains. A large number of pigeons have made their nests in the platform shelters. This results in platforms getting littered. The new shelters would be designed in a manner that this problem is taken care of.