Even after three months of their installation, most components of the Integrated Security System (ISS) at the Mangalore Central Railway Station, meant to enhance safety of passengers and Railway property, are yet to be made operational.
The components include passenger luggage scanners, door-frame metal detectors (for passengers), parcel scanners, under-side scanners for vehicles and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. Except the CCTV and parcel scanners, other components are yet to be put to work.
The luggage and metal-frame detectors, in operational condition, were seen kept at a corner of the main entry to the station, without the signs of any personnel to man the equipment, when The Hindu visited the station on Wednesday. Passengers had free access to the platforms without any check. Similarly, vehicle under-side scanners were not seen operational.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel said they were able to catch petty thieves and anti-social elements with the help of CCTV cameras that were operational. About 38 such cameras have been installed at vantage points including platforms, ticket counters, entry points to the station and other places. An RPF personnel monitors the footages at a control room set up for the purpose.
While it was rumoured that Southern Railway authorities were waiting for a date from Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda for the inauguration of the security system. Palakkad Divisional Railway Manager Anand Prakash told The Hindu that he had instructed to start operating the equipment immediately. “I visited the station on Tuesday and gave instructions to the officials,” he said.
Though bonafide passengers and their luggage could be scrutinised through the ISS, it would be difficult to check entry of unauthorised persons through many other illegal entries to the station, confided an RPF personnel. The second entry to the station does not have a compound wall, making the station vulnerable to threats, he said.
