Delhi Police writes to DMRC on safety of passengers

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has written to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on various issues related to the safety of passengers and Metro premises. The city police had conducted a security audit of more than 180 metro stations across the Capitals, in which issues such as several dark spots and lack of CCTV cameras in areas of metro premises were found.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Metro), Vikram K Porwal, said that after security audit they have written to DMRC for further action.

Sources said that the city police, during the audit, found that in one of the metro stations, commuters were choosing a narrow passage near parking areas as a shortcut for entry and exit in the Metro premises. Officials found the passage vulnerable. "The possibility of commission of all types of crimes cannot be ruled out. The passage may kindly be closed permanently for exit and entry of metro commuters," Delhi Police has said, in a letter to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Sources added that in more than five other metro stations along the Red Line, the Delhi Police found a laxity of CCTV cameras and in another case, the team found that lights which were fitted within the outer periphery area of premises of Metro police station were not working. New lights have been asked to be fitted on the outer wall around the building of police station as there was total darkness around the building. There was also no provision of street lights on the service road from the Metro station to the police station. DMRC has now been told to install new lights at all of these requisite spots.

In another instance, it was found that the fencing over the compounding wall near the DMRC-operated two-wheeler parking area was broken and that residents of nearby shanties were easily entering the parking and metro station area by crossing the wall.

"Any person may enter the parking area by using the gap between the walls and may involve in any criminal activities. New wall with fencing may kindly be constructed on the gap," Delhi Police said in its letter. "There is proper coordination between Delhi Police, DMRC and CISF and it has resulted in curbing of crime in Metro jurisdiction. More steps are being taken for the safety of passengers," said DCP Metro.