With Intelligence Department alerting Indian Railways on the ‘likely’ terror strikes at railway stations with heavy turnout of people, the railway authorities have increased the vigil.
Vijayawada Divisional Railway Manager Pradeep Kumar, City Police Commissioner N. Madhusudhan Reddy, Superintendent of Railway Police (SRP) Ch. Syam Prasad, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Ramesh Chandra, Additional Divisional Railway Manager S. Subba Rao and officers reviewed security at all major railway stations in Vijayawada Division.
The police and the railway authorities decided to constitute an anti-terror sabotage team, installation of additional closed-circuit TV cameras in and around the stations and setting up of luggage scanning machines at parcel offices.
Vigil at parking lots
They are also planning to close certain entrance points to curb movement of anti-social elements into stations.
The Law and Order and Government Railway Police (GRP) asked the South Central Railway officials to keep a vigil on parking places and on the stationary bogies kept on the platforms for rake maintenance.
They also felt an extra surveillance should be taken up at places like canteens and waiting halls.
Mr. Syam Prasad promised that the anti-terror sabotage team along with sniffer dog squads will conduct regular checks on platforms and on running trains.
Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday, Mr. Pradeep Kumar said the Vijayawada station was on the radar of terrorist outfits and his team of officials was geared up to meet any eventuality.
“The aim of any terrorist group is to create panic by planting bombs at busy common places and railway stations are easy preys. We have instructed the officials to beef up security at Rajahmundry station, which is one of the busiest stations in our division,” said the Divisional Railway Manager.
