MUMBAI, SEPT 27: The state and central governments have finally decided to throw an additional security ring around commuters on both the Western and Central railways by announcing the go-ahead for a new police commissionerate today. The decision to set up a commissionerate exclusively for Mumbai was expedited following several instances of stone-pelting along the railway tracks since last year, which have injured scores of commuters.Folowing extensive parleys between the Union Railway Ministry and the state Home Department, modalities were finally ironed out, with the commissionerate becoming operational from October 2.Addressing a joint press conference at the state Secretariat, Union Minister of State for Railways, Ram Naik, and Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde said additional staff would be requisitioned to man the commissionerate and new police stations which will be set up along both railway corridors.``The new commissionerate, which had been demanded several years ago, will startfunctioning from Gandhi Jayanti. Unfortunately, the number of police personnel looking after this section has not increased since 1982,'' Naik said. ``Also, the jurisdiction of the new police commissioner will extend till Virar on the Western Railway and till Karjat, Kasara and Panvel on the Central Railway. This arrangement is important as all stations from Thane earlier fell under Pune railway police,'' he pointed out.The commissioner will be assisted by two deputy commissioners of police, four assistant commissioners, seven inspectors, 19 sub-inspectors and 378 constables. It will also be the first time that three new police stations will be set up along the Central Railway's Harbour Line, at Wadala, Vashi and Panvel. Police stations will also be set up at Churchgate and Andheri, Naik said.Both the state and central governments will shoulder the financial burden, about Rs 6 crore annually, while the commissionerate's performance will be reviewed after two years. After that, a decision will be takento increase manpower and eqipment.The Railway Ministry has also suggested that the state government establish two special courts to dispose of criminal cases registered by the railway police so far, Naik said. He added that excluding serious crime, cases pertaining to political agitations and rail agitations be withdrawn by the state government. Munde said a task force comprising three police officers will submit a report to this effect to the state government in a week. The government would initiate action after submission of the report.
