Mumbai: Dedicated tourism security force a welcome move

Pic/Atul Kamble

Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai recently stated that a dedicated tourism security force will soon be deployed at the Gateway of India and Nariman Point to ensure safety and crowd management at these popular sites.

The impetus for this came from the successful deployment of a similar force at Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani hill stations. This force managed crowds effectively during peak tourist seasons, the tourism minister said.

Some of the tasks were handling crowd control during peak tourist hours, ensuring visitor safety, maintaining smooth traffic flow, resolving disputes among tourists, and curbing rash driving. Reports stated that vehicles were being procured for the squad.

Tourist safety personnel are always welcome, as they are ambassadors of one's city or country. With social media available at a click, these are the people who will create impressions about the place they visit.

Having said that, one must acknowledge that a large chunk of those visiting these SoBo venues are from within the city itself. Whatever the demographic, high-density tourist spots can certainly benefit from monitoring.

In Mumbai, where choked roads are challenging, traffic management can tackle the chaos on these roads. The same goes for dangerous rash driving. Crowd control is necessary. A frantic crowd on edge in the megapolis, which can be overwhelming, is an invitation to disaster. Control is key.

Let this force be well-trained, absolutely clear about its tasks and work in tandem with other authorities as co-ordination means everybody knows their responsibilities and there is no passing the buck. With this initiative, let the state prove it is the hostess with the mostest.