New Delhi: Railways are yet to give the green signal for recruiting 2,700 GRP personnel required for guarding the rail track in Kashmir that came under militant attack last week.
"While the Jammu and Kashmir government has already given its consent to bear the 50 per cent cost, Railways are yet to do the needful to bear its cost share as required for
raising the GRP," official sources said.
Before the inauguration of rail service in Kashmir, the Railways and the state government had in 2008 finalised a security plan under which a dedicated 2,700-strong GRP force
was to be created to guard and patrol the 119 km-long rail line in the Valley.
The cost was to be equally borne by the Railways and state government.
"The GRP proposal is with the finance section and we will give our consent soon," said a senior Railway Ministry official involved with railway security.
However, the official said that security arrangements have been beefed up in the Valley after the recent blast by Hizbul Mujahideen in which nearly two feet of rail track was
blown up in Pulwama district on April 1 disrupting services between south and north Kashmir.
As per the revamped security plan, CCTV will be installed at important stations between Qazigund and Baramulla and there are also proposals for fencing of stations in the
Valley.
Stations at Srinagar, Anantnag, Budgam and Qazigund mong others are being chosen for installation of surveillance cameras at strategic locations.
"Control rooms would also be set up to monitor the situation round-the-clock and patrolling along the railway track and bridges will be intensified in day as well as in night also," said the official.
Security devices like hand-held metal detectors and metal door detectors will be provided in adequate numbers as per the plan.
Besides, it has been decided to have better coordination with state police to ensure full safety and security to railway property in the Valley, said the official.
PTI
