KOCHI: A Government Order (GO) permitting deployment of approximately 180 State Industrial Security Force (SISF) personnel at Kochi metro stations and related assets is expected in three days.
Official sources said both the Home and Finance departments had cleared the proposal, and that the file on it was awaiting the Chief Minister’s nod. “The Home Department had to take a studied decision since it was the first such proposal in the State. On its part, the Finance Department vetted it in detail, since it has financial implications,” they added.
While the State government will pay SISF personnel who will guard the Aluva-Palarivattom corridor, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL) will bear the expenses of private security guards who too will be deployed at stations.
Interestingly, all metro systems in the country are manned by commandos of the State police, except New Delhi where CISF personnel are deployed. “We have readied designs for a few trendy uniforms for SISF commandos in keeping with global standards,” said KMRL Managing Director Elias George. The State police are expected to choose from among the designs.
Once deployed, the commandos will be imparted training in soft-skills. More SISF commandos will be deployed when the metro is extended to Maharaja’s College Ground.
For the record, former Director General of Police (DGP) Jacob Punnose had been appointed security advisor to the Kochi metro. Besides, a metro police station, comprising 30 Kerala Police personnel, is in the offing. It will have jurisdiction over all metro assets.
The police have also agreed to allot an SISF battalion to man the 24 stations in the Aluva-Pettah corridor. Thus, private security guards will man the gates, parking lots, and other points, providing the first layer of security. SISF personnel will selectively frisk people. They will also be present near door-frame metal detectors and baggage scanners.
Officials of the State and Central intelligence wings too will monitor the security cover of all metro assets.
The metro police station will have jurisdiction over the entire corridor, including the Aluva-Pettah viaduct, stations, and the coach depot at Muttom. The station headed by a Circle Inspector will register cases, probe them, and, if need be, refer them to courts.
