Page 50 - 30NOV2018E

INDIAN RAILWAYS
Railways plans
an integrated
security
command
The move aims to provide for
a better coordinated and
effective security for rail
passengers and goods services,
writes MY SIDDIQUI
ith the rejection of the
Central Government’s
proposal to amend the
Railway Protection
W Force Act by the States
and Union Territories to provide for a
single unified command and control
system on Indian Railways, the Union
Government is now contemplating
to integrate the Central Police Forces
together with the Railway Protection
Force (RPF) for single security com-
mand and control on the railways to
provide for a better coordinated and
effective security for rail passengers
and goods services. In such scenario,
RPF may lose its integrity as a dedicated
Force to protect railway properties and
services.
Proposed amendment to the RPF
Act has a serious implications for the
States and Union Territories as they
would never come on board with the
Union Government for a consensus
on this issue. Given the current politi-
cal scenario across the country, even
a Chief Ministers’ Conference in this
regard does not seem likely to bell the
cat. As railway security continues to be
in jeopardy, there is no possibility of a
TEHELKA / 30 NOVEMBER 2018 50 WWW.TEHELKA.COM
50-51 Siddiqui.indd 2 11/16/2018
breakthrough in beefing up railway
security in the foreseeable future!
In this connection, official sources
stated that Policing and Public Order
is a State Subject in the Seventh Sched-
ule of the Constitution of India and the
Centre has no jurisdiction in the mat-
ter. States and Union Territories do not
want any dent in their turf by the Union
Government with the result security on
the railways is not effective for women,
general passengers, against sabotage,
subversion, untoward incidents, theft,
dacoity, loot and other heinous crimes.
As a legacy of British-era policing, a
three-tier security system is prevailing
10:40:45 AM 50-51 Siddiqui.indd
over Indian Railways in the form of addressed properly. remaining constantly following globali-
District Police (DP), Government Rail-
zation of the Indian economy since 1991
Till such time a single security com-
mand and control mechanism is put in
as the Government decided to curtail
way Police (GRP) and Railway Protec-
tion Force (RPF). DP and GRP are State place, effective coordination is needed manpower year on year except in the
among the RPF, GRP, DP, coach attend-
Police on Railways. The RPF is railways
wings where it is absolutely necessary
own security system, dependent on
ants, TTEs, and other Railway personnel to maintain a modicum of manpower
strength.
connected with security to avoid slip-
State policing of railways for control-
ling crimes on railways. Integrated co- pages in security in order to ensure pre- ment, the rail services have deteriorat-
Under the present NDA Govern -
ordinated measures between the three
cautionary, protective and preventive
measures to secure Indian Railways.
security agencies are mostly slippery
ed drastically. Punctuality of trains has
Meanwhile, it is learnt officially that
on the ground. Hence, the proposal for
dipped by 35-40 per cent. Railways are
a single agency with unified command Ministry of Railways has advised zonal losing fast passenger and goods traffic
following efficient low cost airliners as
railways to ensure regular coordina-
and control the need of the changing
well as roadways services. Only glim-
tion meetings at the level of RPF Post,
times over the entire railways for an
effective security. This is needed for
GRP Thana, Senior Divisional Secu-
mer of hope in the current scenario is
rity Commissioner/Divisional Security
safety and security of passengers, to be
ridors, which when fructified will make
Commissioner, GRP and Chief Security the upcoming Dedicated Freight Cor-
Commissioner-Inspector General Po- the railways profitable.
lice to provide adequate security to pas- Meanwhile, a report on financial
sengers and to ensure effective security status of Indian Railways, tabled with
measures. the General Budget 2018-19 on Febru-
ary 1, 2018 in Parliament, painted dismal
picture of its financial health indicating
Since British-era, a that the railways have to remain finan-
three-tier security cially viable on borrowed money from
market and other sources. As a result
system is prevailing of merger of Railways budget with the
General Budget since 2017-18, Railways
over Indian Railways escaped dedicated media focus and for
in form of District that matter public scrutiny of its overall
functioning altogether, the casualty be-
Police, Government ing the impugned report on its financial
Railway Police status from public notice. That is how
Indian Railways have lost its sheen in
and Railway public glare. It comes on the fore in pub-
Protection Force lic domain only when accidents take
place with heavy casualties
In short, capital expenditure of In-
Presently, GRP, which is state po- dian Railways is increasingly being fi-
lice and a dumping ground of corrupt, nanced through borrowings from 8 per
inefficient and unwanted state police cent in 2010-11 to 55 per cent in 2018-19,
personnel, who in GRP milk Indian a sorry state of railways financial viabil-
Railways, rather than control crimes on ity. It is to be noted that private invest-
the railways, allow the crimes to fester ments in the railways are not forthcom-
to the detriment of rail users. It is to be ing, said a Railway Board source. It calls
noted that half of GRP’s salary is borne for massive investments by the Union
by the railways, besides establishment Government to maintain balance be-
cost and accommodation. tween commercial status and social
RPF has evolved from the old Brit- responsibility of Indian Railways as the
ish chowkidari system to the Railway one and only modes of mass transpor-
Protection Force under the RPF Act. It tation of core commodities and bulk
was made a Force of the Union by a later of our people who cannot afford other
amendment in the RPF Act. It’s strength modes of transportation!
is pegged at 70,000 with a large num-
ber of vacancies of more than 10,000 LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
TEHELKA / 30 NOVEMBER 2018 51 WWW.TEHELKA.COM
3 11/16/2018 10:40:52 AM