Public transport: Pakistan Railway updates security plan

Estimated cost of the new plan is Rs17.5 million.

LAHORE: Railways Police Inspector General Syed Ibne Hussain said on Sunday a security plan for Lahore and Faisalabad railway stations had been finalised and approved by Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique.    

He said 17 check posts would be set up at the City railway station. He said a 10-feet high wall would also be constructed.

He said eight check posts would be constructed around the yard. He said surveillance from these check posts would curb theft of Pakistan Railway goods.

He said watch towers with high-powered search lights would also be installed where guards would be on duty round-the-clock.

“The staff would be equipped with the latest radio sets to ensure efficient communication,” he added.

He said a similar project had been planned for Faisalabad Railway Station.

Hussain said the estimated cost of the project around Rs17.5 million. He said details of the plan had been forwarded to PR divisional engineers.

The IG said security would also be increased at 12 other railway stations, including Quetta, Nawab Shah, Sibbi, Multan, Karachi, Khanewal, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Attock, Gujranwala, Peshawar Cantt and Rawalpindi.

Commenting on the security of trains in Balochistan, he said night trains had been suspended. He added that security of tracks and trains had improved with the cooperation of Frontier Constabulary and 10 policemen deployed at each train.

Speaking about the performance of Railway Police during in 2013, the IG said their performance had improved over the previous year.

He said railway police had dealt with 2,056 crime cases, out of which prosecution had resulted in 856 convictions.

He said the railway police had recovered stolen goods worth Rs7.653 million.

He said 227 court absconders and eight proclaimed offenders had been arrested by the railway police. He said 47,590 fare dodgers had been caught and fined. “Over Rs26.6 million was collected from fare dodgers,” he added.

He said the PR police had also fined 331 illegal hawkers and vendors and received Rs126,000 from them. He said 465 acres railway land had been retrieved.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2014.