19 October,2026 08:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
Mumbai GRP Commissioner M Rakesh Kalasagar speaks at the event. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The Mumbai Government Railway Police (GRP) will not check bags of traders at railway stations without a valid reason, Mumbai GRP Commissioner M Rakesh Kalasagar assured textile traders at a programme organised by Bharat Merchants on Saturday.
As per a note issued by the Bharat Merchants Chamber, Kalasagar said any trader's bag will not be checked at a railway station without a valid reason. If any trader faces a problem, they can contact us and I shall look into it personally. The assurance came after chamber president Manoj Jalan, in his welcome address, alleged that traders travelling through railway stations from where mail and express trains operate were repeatedly asked to open their bags in the name of security checks.
"Traders are repeatedly asked to open their bags at railway stations in the name of checking. When cash is found, there are demands for money," Jalan alleged.
He also raised the demand for baggage scanners at these stations to eliminate the need for manual searches. Responding to the demand, Kalasagar said he had sought scanners from the Railways.
"Even now, instructions have been issued that bag checks should be conducted only when absolutely necessary and in front of cameras," the commissioner said.
Kalasagar said the Mumbai GRP has around 4500 personnel, with a section of the force deployed for security on 37 mail and express trains. He said the GRP also works with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to monitor railway security through a network of around 8000 CCTV cameras.
Kalasagar urged traders and passengers facing difficulties to contact the GRP control room on 1512. "Whenever a complaint comes through this number, I also take feedback on it. My doors are always open to everyone," he said.
Kalasagar urged passengers not to carry sharp or pointed objects that could cause injuries. "Two incidents involving such objects have occurred recently," he said.
The programme was attended by chamber vice-president Vinod Gupta, minister Naveen Bagaria, Nilesh Vaishya, treasurer Ajay Singhania, trustees Yogendra Rajpuria and Shriprakash Kedia, Vijay Lohia, Vishnu Kedia, Deepak Bubna, Pawan Mittal, Ashok Gupta, Anand Sureka and Radheshyam Jalan, among others.
