Call to improve safety measures in trains
Delay in lling vacancies claimed to be a major reason for poor security
The Confederation of All India Rail Users Association (CAIRUA) has appealed to the Union government and the Ministry of Railways to improve safety and surveillance measures in trains in the wake of increase in criminal activities.
The confederation functionaries, led by chairman C.E. Chakkunni, who recently held a meeting here to review the situation, said that incidents of attacks on passengers and travelling ticket examiners were emerging as a big threat, along with criminal activities such as extortion and smuggling of banned goods.
A memorandum recently sent by CAIRUA to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Railways observed that the unlled vacancies in the Railways were the major reason for lapses in security measures. The memorandum drew the attention of the authorities to a recent incident in which a ticket examiner was pushed to death from a running train in Thrissur.
The CAIRUA functionaries said the railway authorities should immediately convene users consultative committee meetings to discuss safety issues. The zonal, divisional, and station managers should adopt steps to hold the meetings and do the necessary follow-up actions, they added. The confederation also decided to carry out awareness campaigns against reckless use of gold and other valuables during train journeys. The campaign would be launched with the support of the Railways, they added.
Incidents of attacks on passengers and travelling ticket examiners are emerging as a big threat, along with criminal activities such as extortion and smuggling of banned goods. CAIRUA functionaries