Chennai: Southern Railway (SR) has taken a slew of measures to enhance passenger safety, particularly on the Arakkonam-Tiruttani section in the aftermath of the robbery aboard a Tiruttani-Arakkonam EMU train last Tuesday. The measures include provision of RPF escort in all EMUs operated between Arakkonam and Tiruttani in the night. The ten-point security cover also comprises posting two or three RPF staff permanently at Tiruttani round the clock to watch the movement of suspicious people and prevent men from boarding ladies coaches of EMUs.
A special team led by a RPF SI has also been directed to move in the section at frequent intervals on various trains to watch and apprehend unauthorised persons from trains and stations. RPF has also mobilised additional manpower from other sections and deployed them in Arakkonam section.
The SR general manager’s office has also instructed the RPF Assistant security commissioner, Arakkonam to camp at Arakkonam to personally oversee the security arrangements. RPF chief security commissioner has also directed all RPF staff on platform / station duty and train escort duty to attend to all the EMU trains, especially ladies coaches besides issuing an alert to all those in-charge of RPF posts and outposts to conduct awareness campaigns to create a sense of security among the traveling public.
The security enhancement measure also includes organising decoy checks. Hamstrung by vacancies aplenty, RPF officials have also advised women passengers to avoid traveling in isolated coaches, particularly during night time, as a preventive measure against crimes, owing to railways inability to provide escort to all ladies coaches. In the event of any problem aboard trains or at stations, women passengers were also exhorted to contact or SMS to RPF woman helpline number 1322 or 044-25353999, RPF Helpline number 9003161710 and GRP Helpline number 9962500500.
According to railway officials, 6976 unauthorised vendors, 9,743 persons who caused nuisance to passengers, 657 persons who were restricting entry of passengers into trains, 412 male persons traveling in ladies compartments and 166 persons who defaced trains and stations by pasting notices / bills without permission were apprehended and prosecuted through special drives and a total fine of '4.48 lakhs was realised during January-July 2014 period.
