No security setup at the entrance outside platform No. 6
Jose K Joseph
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: Even as security has been beefed up at important locations across the country after the recent terrorist attack at the Pathankot airbase, security lapses continue as before at Bhubaneswar railway station, the most important railway station in the state.
While the main entrance to the station opening to Master Canteen Square has security checks such as baggage scanning, entry of passengers to the station through the Cuttack Road side via platform No.6 remains devoid of any such security checks. Orissa POST had reported this issue in its October 26 edition headlined ‘Security Slack at City Railway Station’.
The city airport took measures to beef up its security after receiving a high alert from Bureau of Civil Aviations Security in the aftermath of the terrorist attack at Pathankot.
Security experts say the absence of security checks at the railway station at the entrance at Cuttack Road side is a major lapse, especially after the serial train burning incident at Puri railway station recently and the Pathankot attacks.
Top railway officials who recently visited the station for inspecting the ongoing expansion activities at the Cuttack Road side entrance apparently failed to notice the security lapse there.
When contacted, the inspector of Government Railway Police (GRP) at Bhubaneswar railway station said that Railway Protection Force (RPF) is responsible for monitoring the security arrangements at the station and maintenance of gadgets used in the
security system.
“Platforms No. 5 and No. 6 were constructed recently and the entry point at platform No. 6 lacks security checks. GRP is responsible only for physical verification, patrolling and frisking. We are not involved with any mechanical or electronic surveillance system,” said Saubhagya K. Swain, inspector-in-charge of GRP, to Orissa POST.
However, the inspector of RPF, when contacted, said activities such as entrance and departure of passengers at Cuttack Road side entrance are being constantly monitored.
“RPF is monitoring the CCTV visuals 24/7 and is aware of the situation at platform No. 6. Moreover, platform No.6 is a newly constructed platform and its expansion work is still going on. The Cuttack Road side entrance will have a baggage scanning system in future. We are not in a position currently to say when it will be done,” said DC Nayak, the inspector of RPF on additional charge.
Sources also said that Bhubaneswar railway station will face a shortage of security personnel January 26 since some officials will leave for Delhi for the Republic Day parade there.
