24 February,2014 07:23 AM IST | | Shashank Rao
While the GRP has demanded 77 more CCTV cameras and regulation of auto and taxi movement, CR authorities are concentrating on demolishing the old terminal building, and installing travelators to the Kurla station
In the wake of software engineer Esther Anuhya's disappearance from the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) premises and the brutal murder that followed, Government Railway Police (GRP) have asked the Central Railway (CR) authorities to beef up security arrangements in the premises. But it appears that the CR authorities have some other plans of their own.
Recently, the GRP wrote a letter, asking the CR authorities to further secure the Kurla LTT premises. "We need 77 more CCTV cameras at Kurla LTT, namely at the entry to the station, parking areas and other places where movement can be monitored," said a GRP official, adding that CCTV footage has yielded crucial leads in the investigations in the Anuhya murder case.
The CR authorities plan to demolish the old terminus building, and keep the waiting room as it is
The GRP also want barricades to be put up to restrict the free and unchecked movement of people and prevent autos and taxis from entering the terminal. Also, the GRP doesn't want autos and taxis to come close to the platforms and LTT premises.
Senior CR officials recently went to the premises to inspect loopholes in the security system. But their response wasn't encouraging. "We cannot stop the movement of autos and taxis at Kurla LTT. Moreover, the government and local police should pitch in for the installation of cameras, as many of them are needed outside the rail premises," said a senior CR official.
The rail authorities claim that any matter related to spaces outside their premises comes under the purview of authorities in charge of the state's law and order. CR authorities have plans of their own. They have planned changes at Kurla LTT, wherein they will partly demolish the old building, keeping only the waiting room standing, for passengers.
"We are demolishing all other offices present so that people have to walk less in order to go to the new terminus," said another official. There is also a proposal to set up travelators connecting Kurla LTT to Kurla station, so that people are not dependent on autos and taxis waiting outside LTT.
