Technology-aided Integrated Security Scheme (ISS) conceived for Tiruchi junction to reinforce security and surveillance is getting closer to fruition with the supply of first batch of gadgets to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.
A couple of luggage scanners, a parcel scanner, bomb suit and a bomb suppression blanket constitute the paraphernalia provided under the ISS, which aims at putting in place a comprehensive security mechanism for effective monitoring.
Tiruchi is one among the major railway stations across the country identified for implementation of the hi-tech ISS, which was conceived in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008.
The idea was to avert such ghastly incidents by fortifying security and surveillance in stations utilising technology and advanced security gadgets.
Accordingly, a sum of Rs. 4 crore was sanctioned exclusively to Tiruchi Junction for bringing it under the scope of the ISS with the key components under this mechanism being Closed Circuit Television System, Access Control measures, Baggage Screening, and Bomb Detection and Disposal system.
A couple of automatic vehicle scanners are the next items in the pipeline for Tiruchi Junction under the ISS which would enable RPF personnel to scan underside of vehicles of all sizes and detect foreign objects. The scanners would provide high resolution images of the underside of the vehicles.
RPF officials say it was only a matter of time before the cameras would be in place, as the Research Design and Standards Organisation has already given its approval for the equipment.
A total number of 23 dome cameras and 35 fixed cameras have been approved for Tiruchi Junction, under the ISS, to cover all the seven platforms.
Cable works as a precursor to the installation of the surveillance cameras have already been completed at the station. From a master control room, the movements on platforms and circulating areas would be monitored.
The points for installation of cameras have already been identified. All cameras would be linked to the seven monitors that are to be installed inside the air-conditioned master control room identified near the VIP entry side.
Six RPF personnel in three shifts would be deployed at the master control room to watch the movements round-the-clock. RPF officials expect the cameras to be in place before May.
The advanced gadgets would facilitate the RPF in better monitoring, say officials.
Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Coimbatore, Madurai, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram are the other stations in Southern Railway zone to come under the scope of the ISS.
