30 September,2010 07:20 AM IST | | Vedika Chaubey
With additional security, camera surveillance and even steel meshes in place, BEST, MSRTC and Railways have pulled out all stops to ensure that you face no problems today
Rail and road transport authorities in the city have put a string of measures in place to ensure a safe ride for you today.
With the GRP and RPF deployed in full force at railway stations and the BEST and MSRTC doing what they can to ensure safe journeys for their passengers, officials are certain that the lifelines of the city will be alive and kicking.
ALIVE AND KICKING: To ensure smooth operations, the railways have
mobilised extra officers of the Railway Protection Force and Government
Railway Police to guard all the stations today. file pic
u00a0
Road transport
The BEST will run all of its 4,500 buses for the nearly 44-lakh passengers who use them for their daily commute. Around 25 buses from each BEST depot will be fitted with a steel wire mesh on the glass windscreen to protect the driver's cabin against possible attacks.
Officials said this was necessary as buses, like autos and taxis, are chosen targets of mobs. In such situations, they say, the air-conditioned KingLong buses, which have a predominantly glass exterior, are even easier targets. "We tried to fortify KingLong buses as well, but could not source big steel meshes atu00a0 short notice," said BEST chairman Sanjay Potnis.
Om Prakash Gupta, general manager, BEST, said that they will be in touch with security agencies and take decisions according to the requirements of the situation today.
MSRTC
Deepak Kapoor, managing director, MSRTC, said, "Central offices and all state transport offices will be open from 6 am in all divisions. All sensitive depots have been asked to remain alert and stay in constant touch with the police. We will take extra efforts to keep our buses and passengers safe."
Railways
Both the Central and Western Railways intend to run their services as they would on a normal day. To ensure smooth operations, the railways have mobilised extra officers of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP). Around 1,503 and 3,500 men from the RPF and GRP respectively will be guarding the stations today. All leaves have been cancelled for the personnel and they are working 12-hour shifts instead of the regular 8-hour ones.
The RPF has also formed small units known as Quick Response Teams (QRT), which will be equipped to tackle emergencies. The QRTs will be active primarily in the suburbs and can also be mobilised to spots close to railway stations.
Vinod Kumar Dhaka, additional senior divisional security commissioner, said, "We will deploy one RPF policeman with a walkie-talkie in each rake to enable round-the-clock communication. We are also placing our policemen in the police control room, Mantralaya control room and DG control room in case railway passengers report any suspicious behaviour."
S Mudgerikar, chief PRO, Central Railway, has assured passengers that trains will run normally. "Our services will not be affected. We have asked all railway staff to be alert and report any suspicious activity to the police immediately. Our officials will also be tracking CCTV footage to ensure that even the smallest incident can be taken care of."
PRO Sharat Chandrayan of the Western Railway, too, said that services will run on schedule, "Additional forces have been deployed to tackle emergencies. Policewomen will also be stationed inside ladies coaches and on the platforms," said a WR official.
NUMBER GAME
Central Railway:
Total services: 1,556
Daily commuters: 37 lakh
RPF personnel on guard: 1,800
Western Railway:
Total services: 1,300
Daily commuters: 33 lakh
RPF personnel on guard: 703
BEST:
Total bus depots: 25
Sensitive depots: 9 (Shivaji Nagar, Malwani, Poisar, Goregaon, Gorai, Magathane, Mumbai Central, Dharavi and Kurla)
Daily commuters: 44 lakh
Total number of commuters using Mumbai's trains and buses each day: 1.12 crore (approx)
GRP's steps
Additional Director General of Police, GRP, Raj Khilnani, said:
>>u00a0We are prepared for all types of situations
>> Will be coordinating with city police
>> GRP can use plastic bullets in an emergency
>> The focus will be more on platforms
>> Home Guards will also be out in full strength
