Bullet-proof sheds, gun-toting policemen and sniffer dogs aside, most security measures promised by authorities still remain on paper.
Six years after the 11/7 serial train blasts, two victims are still fighting for their lives in the hospital, the Western Railway has spent more than Rs21.83 crore and given jobs to 73 relatives of the deceased, even as the railway police have announced another set of grand security plans on paper.
“The WR has spent Rs2.25 crore on two victims ‑ Parag Chavan who is at Hinduja hospital and Amit Singh who is at Jaslok hospital, and disbursed an amount of Rs21.83 crore as ex-gratia and compensation,’’ said a senior railway official and added, “Sixty people have said that they are not willing to take up a job and two claimants are minors.”
On July 11, 2006, in a dastardly act of cowardice, suspected terrorists exploded bombs in the first-class coaches of seven suburban trains at Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Santa Cruz, Jogeshwari, Borivli and Bhayander between 5.19pm and 5.57pm, which are evening peak hours. The blasts claimed the lives of 187 people, including one terrorist.
On Tuesday, Railway Protection Force (RPF) bosses, as usual, announced a list of expensive security gadgets they are planning to have installed at all suburban railway stations. However, six years after the blasts, most of the security measures that have been announced are still stuck in red tape and are yet to see the light of day.
Little thought has been given to ground realities that need to be addressed in case of another terrorist attack. While Central Railway RPF boss Alok Bohra said that they were planning to introduce bullet-proof sheds and gun-toting policemen at stations after the CST terrorist attack, WR RPF boss Rajendra Rupanwar said that they had plans of installing several CCTVs at major stations. However, both have remained mum on plans of what authorities will actually do if local trains are once again targeted by terrorist groups.
Rupanwar added that there are 14 sniffer dogs in RPF to trace explosives and bombs at station premises. These sniffer dogs have been checking all station premises and trains twice a day, he said and added that they have also put in place a highly-trained bomb detection and disposal squad.
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