Mumbai Metro set to roll but where is the security

With safety clearances in place for the Mumbai Metro, the staff of 790 Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) has not been deployed at the metro installations.

Sources associated with the 11.04 km long metro rail project informed that as per the security plan that was chalked over six months ago a total of 790 security guards were needed, however, till date a skeletal staff 60 to 70 MSF guards have been provided by the Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC).

The matter of concern for the officials is that the safety clearance has come and they want to start the commercial services at the earliest, which is within a week's time, and prior to that the entire security staff of 790 personnel needs to get training along with familiarisation of the metro stations and depot.

Even though a Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) official claimed that the issue of having an entire security staff has been resolved and all the personnel have already begun their training. KP Raghuvanshi, director general of MSSC informed dna, "We are in the process of providing the required strength of personnel for metro rail."

When a spokesperson of MMOPL was asked as to when will the full strength of MSF personnel be provided, he was unable to respond.

When Raghuvanshi was asked about the outdated .410 rifles given to the staff and need to provide them with better weapons, he too did not reply.

As per the security plans each metro stations will have hand- held as well as door- framed metal detectors apart from dog squads to detect explosives.