IGI Metro now runs into security hurdle

New Delhi: A day after the CMRS (Commissioner Metro Rail Safety) gave the go-ahead to the Airport Express Metro line, uncertainty seemed to loom large over the issue of security.
While the concessionaire for the line, Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt Ltd (DAMEPL), is insisting on keeping security in-house, the DMRC and the bureau of civil aviation security prefer the CISF to handle security, said sources.
Speaking to TOI, DMRC MD, E Shreedharan, said, "The security setup will need to be approved by the government, specially the ministry of home affairs, before the line is opened. Proposal for security setup will be passed on to the competent authority."
Shreedharan also revealed that DMRC had sent the request for increasing the sanctioned train speed of 105kmph to 120kmph on the Airport line to RDSO (a government agency ) on Tuesday. The request has been sent to comply with the CMRS's observation that an independent body needs to inspect the line to allow trains to run at 120kmph.
"The bureau of civil aviation security thinks that the check-in baggage needs to be handled by CISF," said an official of the bureau of civil aviation security. Now, officials of DAMEPL admit that it will take another three-four days to resolve the security issue.
On Monday, R K Kardam, CMRS, had admitted that he had certain "observations" to make about the security set-up on the line. While Kardam had said that DMRC was already "looking" into the matter, sources in Delhi Metro admitted that the proposal by DAMEPL hasn't found much favour .
12/01/11 Rumu Banerjee &Neha Lalchandani/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jan 2011