Spl police for Metro,monorail,trained by US aces

The memorandum is the outcome of the MMRDA’s tie-up with the US Federal Transportation Authority that is helping officials train in various aspects of running the Metro and the monorail. MTI will handle security aspects.

Additional metropolitan commissioner S V R Srinivas said the Metro and the monorail will be different from the existing transport systems and therefore need global security measures.

“MTI experts will come to Mumbai and train policemen and private guards in ensuring passenger safety. They have a separate security research wing that includes counter-terrorism experts who would share their knowledge about preventing the systems from anti-social elements,” he said.

A joint research on the safety of passengers will consider various aspects of terrorism,natural disasters and accidents.

Srinivas said the MoU will help establish a mechanism that will divide the functions of running the Metro and the monorail. It will include various facets such as a hotline system,coordination and running the transport units,besides the special transit police,if approved.

Officials said all major cities with modern transport systems,including those in the US,have special police to handle transport. “The local police already have other issues to handle so it would be better if there is a dedicated security for the Metro and the monorail. We will study if the US system can be implemented here with adaptations,” an officer said.

The system will also be extended simultaneously to BEST and state transport buses. “Similar standards will be examined for all other modes of public transport including BEST and MSRTC buses,to make public transport more secure,” Chavan said.

Advanced security technology will include access control and intruder detection at Metro/monorail stations.