RailEnquiry

BANGALORE: Tremendous pressure to provide security to VVIPs and VIPs on trains by the Government Railway Police (GRP) and other reasons have resulted in less deployment of this depleted force for intensive patrol.These and other problems faced by the GRP have been regularly brought to the notice of the Centre and the railway board but to no avail. The latest letter written by additional DG (railways) Bhaskar Rao on July 7 has again listed how the sanctioned strength of GRP for Karnataka which was 725 in 1971 is 900, 40 years later.In his letter to the chairman, railway board, Rao said GRP has jurisdiction over entire Karnataka covering 3,782 kms of tracks. "More people are travelling by train as it is the cheapest, fastest and safest mode of travel. Despite the increase in the activities of railways, there has been miniscule increase in sanctioned strength of GRP between 1971 and 2011,'' the letter said.Making a case for a staff increase, Rao said Karnataka shares a border with seven districts of Andhra Pradesh and is also considered the capital for the south. The total number of passengers travelling per day from Karnataka which was 1,74,200 in 1981 was 4,17,808 in 2011.He said VIP/VVIP has security categorization and their travel by train has increased. One railway security officer and police constables have to be deployed.

The railways started the Golden Chariot to attract foreign tourists. For this, security of higher level needs to be provided.

In 1974 there were 64 platforms in Karnataka but now there are 1,089. Several new platforms in the yard have been constructed for cleaning, maintenance and parking. Due to the ill-lit tracks, a large number of anti-social elements enter for illegal activities.

Deputy chief minister R Ashoka told the legislative council on Thursday the government was sending a proposal seeking the Centre's assistance to enhance the strength of railway police.

The expenditure of the railway police is borne at 50:50 ratio by the railway board and the state government.