The Western Railway has suffered a loss of around Rs five crore in the serial train blasts that rocked the metropolis on July 11.
MUMBAI: The Western Railway has suffered a loss of around Rs five crore in the serial train blasts that rocked the metropolis on July 11.
This was informed by Western Railway general manager Rajkamal Rao while speaking to reporters here on Thursday.
The Western Railway proposes to strengthen the security in the local trains and has decided to appoint a consulting agency to suggest measures in this direction, Rao said.
"We have decided to appoint a consulting agency to suggest how to strengthen the security in the trains for the safety of the passengers,'' Rao said.
The general manager informed that the number of the dog squad teams at major stations like Churchgate, Bandra, Andheri, Borivali and others, has been increased three-fold after the blasts. Metal detection teams, too, have been deployed at the major stations, he added.
Replying to a query, Rao admitted that the present security arrangements were inadequate and needs to be strengthened. ''It is not possible to check each and every passenger, and we need the support of the public,'' he said.
On the need to appoint an outside agency for strengthening the security, Rao quipped, ''We are experts at running trains and maintaining them.''
He informed that tenders had been invited for installation of CCTVs at railway stations but things are yet to be finalised.
Rao informed about the Railway Ministry's decision to increase the ex-gratia payment to families of the grievously hurt persons in the serial blasts to Rs 50,000 from Rs 5,000 and to Rs 10,000 from Rs 500 to those who had received minor injuries. The railway has already disbursed Rs 15 lakh to injured persons, he said.
"This was the most disastrous incident in the history of Mumbai suburban railway system. Despite the heavy damages suffered by Western Railway, we were able to restore the service within 16 hours of the incident,'' Rao said.
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