MiD DAY pictures show that most of the five entrances were unmanned on two occasions
MiD DAY pictures show that most of the five entrances were unmanned on two occasions
In the backdrop of the 26/11u00a0 terror attacks in Mumbai, the 4,000 people who use Pune railway station every day in peak hours have little to feel secure about. The metal detectors lie unmanned most of the time during the day and only entrance and exit points onu00a0Platform number one are manned.
Open to attack
Despite crores being spent by the railway authorities on security equipment, there are not enough personnel to man them. MiD DAY took exclusive pictures and videos of how most of the five entrances were unmanned on two occasions.
u00a0
RPF Commissioner R B Roopanwar told MiD DAY that the force in Pune is 60 per cent short of manpower. Although he insisted that the entrances were manned, it can be seen in MiD DAY's pictures and videos that the metal detectors and counters clearly aren't. "The entrances are manned. The officers must have gone for a cup of tea," he said.
Illegal entrances
MiD DAY shot the entrances unmanned on two occasions from 7.30 pm to 8 pm on Sunday and at 4 pm to 6.30 pm yesterday.
Station Manager C D Pounikar, said there are around 150 trains that use the Pune railway junction in a day. "The number of commuters has shot up in the last five to six years."
There are around five legal entry points at the station. But at least six others that are illegal, according to an RPF source. "Now, we are going to build a wall around the station on the lines of Pune airport," said Roopanwar.
The Pune RPF has around 67 personnel, of which 15 will retire soon. Around 70,000 people were recruited at the central level for RPF, but they have been moved to the special railway force. "This is a policy matter," said Roopanwar.
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