14 April,2011 06:40 AM IST | | Parth Satam
Swargate bus depot still to receive approval for purchase of vital security apparatus like CCTV cameras, bag scanners and metal detectors despite forwarding proposal to MSRTC management months ago
The Swargate bus depot of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) remains an easy target for terrorists as it lacks security equipment like CCTV cameras, bag scanners and metal detectors that the police had advised it to put in place.
Easy target: The Swargate bus depot was advised to go for modern
security measures by the police after the German Bakery blast last year,
but nothing has been done so far. File pic
The MSRTC management in Mumbai has stillu00a0not responded to a proposal to buy the security equipment that was forwarded by the depot officials in the city after the Swargate police station issued advisories in the wake of the devastating German Bakery blast on February 13 last year.
MSRTC Joint Managing Director Deepak Kapoor said he could not comment on the issue. "You are talking to the wrong person here. Please contact Chief Security and Vigilance Officer R R Mangaonkar," he said.
When contacted, Special Inspector General RR Mangaonkar said he could not comment on the issue right away and would have to refer to the file on the security equipment proposal.
The delay in purchasing the security equipment means anyone wanting to plant a bomb at the depot today does not need too much luck on his side to walk in, place a bag containing the explosive and walk out smiling.
Swargate police station in-charge Rajkumar Gaikwad confirmed that advisories had been issued to the bus depot last year, saying it was one of the several potential terror targets identified by them for installation of security equipment.
"We also visited the depot last month to see if the security systems were in place, but found none. We had advised the depot to install security cameras, metal detectors and bag scanners," said Gaikwad.
