LS polls 2024: EC asks railways to ensure smooth movement for CAPF personnel

The Election Commission EC has directed the railway board to ensure smooth and hasslefree train movement for more than 34 lakh security personnel being deployed for the upcoming general and assembly elections with specific instructions to avoid recurrence of delays noticed in the pastThe poll panel has sought setting up of a 24x7 control room which will oversee this mega crosscountry movement of the troops over the next few months and to make adequate arrangements for fans and air conditioning in coaches meals medical facilities at stations on route availability of special and splinter bogies and pest control in the wagons during this exercise periodThe EC in a communication issued to the railway board last week said a largescale deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces CAPFs and police forces drawn from various states for election purpose was essential as they will undertake and ensure area domination confidence building measures poll day duties and guarding of EVMcentres etcAs many as 3400 companies of the CAPFs and state police forces have been requisitioned by the EC for ensuring free and fair polls during the upcoming general elections and assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Odisha and SikkimDeployment of CAPFs to various statesUTs involves rail movement and the ministry of railways has therefore a significant role to play in induction and deinduction of these forces the EC communication accessed by PTI saidIt expressed a particular concern over delay in movement of forces and inconvenience faced by its personnel which was raised by the ministry of home affairs MHA during rail travel for election duty in 2022 and 2023The railways should address these concerns so as to avoid recurrence of such incidents during train journey of security forces The issue of availability of rolling stock recurred in the recent elections in NovemberDecember 2023 resulting into delay in movement of forces the EC saidThe poll panel has asked the ministry of railways to appoint nodal officers at its headquarters and zonal offices for smooth coordination of this movement ensuring availability of rolling stock bogies comfortable seating and resting arrangement for security personnel and provision of essential facilities such as electricity water fans ACs etc keeping in mind the summer seasonThe ministry has also been asked to ensure deployment of cleaning staff for maintaining hygiene and undertaking pest control measures to ensure cleanliness in the coaches apart from directing the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation IRCTC to appoint nodal officers for providing meals to the personnel on moveThe poll body has also desired that the railways deploy dedicated officers and staff for timely inspection of these trains and ensuring ACII tier and ACIII tier bogies for the personnel and officers of these forcesIn order to ensure that these contingents do not face delays the EC has asked the railway board to ensure that priority is given to all the special trains carrying troops and in case of their halt at any railway station due to nonavailability of connecting trains suitable accommodation and meals be provided to these teamsThe railways has also been asked to provide medical facilities or first aid kits on these election special coaches and provision to resolve all issues related to maintenance and mechanical faults in these trainsIn view of the above it is requested that necessary action be taken and directions may be issued to all concerned to ensure smooth and hasslefree mobilisation of forces via rail the EC saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever