Metro will get NSG tips to fight terror,tackle disasters

The committee will look into the possibilities of situations like terror strikes,flood crisis,tunnel blocking and earthquakes.

“There are proposals of creating a comprehensive disaster management plan. The committee,chaired by the NSG representative,has representatives from different sectors. It strives to formulate a standardised procedure for managing disaster situations,” said Chief Operations manager,Metro Railway,Jayanta Mitra.

At present,the number of officials manning the 17 Metro stations in the city under the Metro Railway Police (MRP) is only 77. Metro authorities have been holding discussions with the city police for increasing the number.

The 77 personnel,drawn from the Kolkata police,were sanctioned for the MRP,when there were only five Metro stations in the city. The number of personnel has remained static even though the Metro has 17 stations now.

The Kolkata police had also submitted a proposal to the Railway Board for introducing 1175 security posts at Metro,following which a committee was set up to look into the matter,which recommended the creation of 685 posts.

“We are waiting for the nod from the Railway Board. The state government has already agreed on the proposal of the Kolkata police for augmenting security staff. After the assessment is submitted 685 new personnels might be added. Their expenditure will be shared equally by the state and Centre and recruitment will be the state’s responsibility,” said Mitra.