Nine months after Tiruchirapalli Junction was brought under the scope of the Integrated Security Scheme (ISS), the system is yet to become fully functional. .
Some of the security gadgets already procured are yet to be installed, pending demonstration and training to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, while a few more are yet to be supplied by the private firm.
Encompassing four key components such as the closed circuit television system , access control, personal baggage screening system, and bomb detection and disposal system, the ISS was formally implemented at Tiruchi Junction on March 20 with the commissioning of some cameras. Tiruchi was the sixth major station in the Southern Railway zone to be brought under the scope of the ISS. .
The railway administration had conceived the system in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 and identified major stations across the country to deploy the system. Tiruchi was one among the identified stations and funds to the tune of a little over Rs. 3 crore was allocated for the project.
Of the 67 surveillance cameras, only 46 have been fixed and active till now , say railway sources here.
A couple of under vehicle scanners already supplied are yet to be commissioned, although the spots to fix them have been identified.
Similarly, other security gadgets including couple of vapour tracers with local craft terminal, real time monitoring and bomb basket are yet to be commissioned , say sources.
The list of gadgets that remains to be supplied includes disruptor, thermal cutter and blasting machine. However, the x-ray baggage scanner and the parcel scanner were being utilised to check passenger belongings and parcels sent by trains.
RPF officials say supply of remaining surveillance cameras at the earliest would help its personnel to have a complete monitoring of the Junction where a centralised control room.
They also feel that hands-on training to its personnel by the equipment vendor would greatly benefit both the people and the administration.
