CISF out, State Police to Guard Namma Metro

Govt's move leaves many wondering if it is to save Rs 58.31 crore spent on salary of 800 personnel annually

CISF out, State Police to Guard Namma Metro

Govt's move leaves many wondering if it is to save Rs 58.31 crore spent on salary of 800 personnel annually

Cost cutting? A private security personnel stands guard at the Trinity
metro station on M G Road in the city. Pic/ Ramesh H S

According to sources, the decision was probably a cost-saving measure by the state, since deploying
800 CISF personnel would cost the exchequer Rs 58.31 crore annually. The CISF provides security cover to all critical infrastructure installations such as ISRO, BIAL, Delhi Metro and also leading IT companies such as Infosys.

The state government had approached CISF in October last year and even in March this year, following which the agency conducted an elaborate security detail for Bangalore Metro. According to sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the CISF had suggested deployment of 800 men to guard the six stations and premises of Bangalore Metro, but the state government has decided to deploy the state police for this task.

Sources further revealed that the state would have to bear the cost of housing and other facilities for 800 CISF personnel if they were used for the task, which would work up to Rs 58.31 crore annually.

This, they said could probably have urged for the cost-saving option of using personnel from the state police force. Bangalore City Police Commissioner B G Jyothi Prakash Mirji further confirmed the information. "The BMRCL approached us about the same earlier and we have started training our personnel to provide security cover to the stations," he said.

Manning up
However, it is no secret that the Karnataka State Police is lacking personnel and despite this, they will now have to spare 800 personnel from their official duties to guard the Metro stations. "The State Police personnel have already prepared the security schematics for the Bangalore Metro. The force is ready for the Reach - 1 and they would now be deployed as soon as Metro places the requirement," said Mirji.

He further added that the state police will continue recruitment, especially for Bangalore Metro and other stretches, which would be operational later. "There are various security measures being planned for the project as we want to be prepared for any untoward situation," claimed B L Y Chavan, the spokesperson of BMRCLu00a0 He added that security measures will include frisking of passengers at the entry/exit points of the stations and also a Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) will be deployed on all premises covered by the Metro.

Safety measures
>>Frisking with hand-held explosives detector
>>Baggage scan
>>CCTV cameras in the station and coaches
>>Constant security monitoring
at the control centre
>>Sniffer dogs squad
>>Special state police force
>>Metro private guards

Major stations
>>Byappanahalli
>>Old Madras Road
>>Indira Nagar
>>Ulsoor
>>Trinity Circle
>>MG Road

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