Proposals worth Rs 17.71 crore put forward by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to procure Explosive Vapour Trace detectors, X-Ray baggage inspection machines, X-Ray body scanner portals, door-frame and hand-held metal detectors and to have bomb-disposal and dog squads have been gathering dust with the Northern Railways for months now.

Following explosions on the Delhi-Attari Special, the RPF officials unofficially admit that the incident is a reflection on how serious the Indian Railways is about security mechanisms on its trains. “Having any of the proposed items installed at the Old Delhi Railway Station could have possibly helped in detection of the explosive materials before these were taken on board the Delhi-Attari Special,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.

In the aftermath of the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts, the RPF had identified 170 railway stations across the country as “sensitive” and had prepared detailed proposals for each of the 16 zonal railways.

“Northern Railways too was

given a detailed proposal on what was required in terms of equipment, dog squads and bomb squads. We are yet to hear from them,” the official added.

According to the proposal, Northern Railways was asked to procure 19 Explosive Vapour Detectors costing Rs 3.33 crore for both New Delhi and Old Delhi Railway Stations. Further, the RPF had recommended procurement of 80 door-frame metal detectors and 50 hand-held metal detectors for the Old Delhi Railway Station and also raising of a Bomb Detection and Disposal Staff squad for the Old Delhi station. In addition, installation of 33 X-Ray baggage inspection machines was proposed all over Northern Railways network.

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