Page 51 - 30NOV2018E

INDIAN RAILWAYS

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