Security threat to pilgrims at Tirupati rly station

• About 50,000 passengers pass through the station every day
• Station exposed to several unauthorised entry points
• All passengers are not screened at door frame metal detectors and baggage scanners are not being used
• RPF is plagued with severe staff shortage

Tirupati: Known for connecting devotees to the abode of Lord Venkateswara, Tirupati railway station is one of the busiest transit point in view of the rising pilgrim population.

But, there is no adequate security for pilgrims at the station due to shortage of manpower and non-implementation of technology. On an average, 50,000 passengers commute daily from Tirupati railway station. The number would be even more during weekends and holidays.

The station can be accessed from 10 different entry points without any screening. On the northern side apart from main entrance, two more entrances are there with one at opposite railway reservation complex and the other one opposite Vishnu Nivasam.

All the other entry points are unauthorised, and anyone can enter the station from any of the entrances with any unwanted material, and there was absolutely no provision to check miscreants. On the whole, there are only four door frame metal detectors – two at main entrance and two more at opposite reservation complex entrance.

Even then, they of little use with people need not pass through them and no one monitors the movement of passengers. While there was only one baggage scanner, it was located at main entrance only.

In the recent past, about one kg gold was caught from a passenger only when his baggage was scanned. Being a crowded pilgrim centre, there were many instances in the past many criminals have travelled through this station and took shelter in the city or Tirumala Hills.

Still, it seems the authorities have not taken the security aspect seriously till now which was evident from the fact that there were many vacancies in Railway Protection Force (RPF). Out of the sanctioned staff of 70 at all levels, only 38 have been working now.

It becomes very difficult for them to monitor security at station, which has five platforms. Almost 90 trains pass through the station every day. RPF personnel have to provide security at trains also which becomes a herculean task for them.

At present, 27 CCTV cameras have been working in the station. Under the Nirbhaya Act, to protect women from harassment and teasing, proposals have been sent for installation of 77 CCTV cameras, out of which 50 were proposed for Tirupati station, 10 for Chandragiri, seven for Pakala and five each for Tirupati West and Panapakam stations.

“Already, we got seven CCTVs for Tirupati and six for Chandragiri. In Chandragiri, the installation was going on whereas in Tirupati, it begins at any moment.

This will make us to monitor more effectively and once all proposed CCTV cameras were fixed,” said RPF Inspector B Saidaiah. Proposals have also been submitted for filling up of existing vacancies and additional recruitment too.

Guntakal Divisional Railway Manager Vijay Prathap Singh during his visit to station last week reviewed the security aspect and directed to get additional staff from other places in peak days.

While the station redevelopment is on cards, it seems every proposal has been linked to that. As it takes another three years, once it is started, security aspect cannot be overlooked till then.