Private players to take part in CR’s Rs 250-cr security plan

After 26/11,the Railway Ministry had decided to spend more than Rs 800 crore on security of railway stations.

“We are checking the funding options,of which one could be a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model,” said Bharat Bhushan Modgil,general manager,CR. The model,sources said,has been suggested by the Railway Board. A private party is expected to fund the equipment,which would be installed at almost all stations,like hi-tech CCTV cameras and baggage-screening machines at stations.

In return,the advertising rights of the Mumbai division of the CR,which is a revenue-earning source,would be given to the private party for the duration of the concession period.

The Western Railway (WR) has also reportedly allocated Rs 35 crore for beefing up security in the suburban section of its Mumbai division. The Mumbai division has only 28 stations from Churchgate to Virar. The section is likely to be extended till Dahanu this year.

Meanwhile,the CR has asked staff operating the cloakrooms at important stations to accept luggage only after thoroughly checking them. “The exercise is part of the security measures undertaken by the CR after the terror attacks,” said Vinay Mittal,additional general manager,CR.