Bengaluru: Hindi or no Hindi, there appears to be no plan by the Namma Metro to provide adequate security to its property on its 42.3 km network as the blackening of Hindi signage in Metro station boards by Kannada activists late on Thursday night revealed.
Though personnel from the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force and private security guards are stationed and CCTV cameras installed at Metro stations, Namma Metro is unable to guarantee the safety of its premises, as only private security guards are stationed from 11 pm to 6 am, when the trains don't ply.
On any given day, only four to five 5 KISF guards can be seen at each Metro station. If there is ever a violent protest with a bigger mob, the KISF with its miniscule staff would be unable to tackle them. CCTV cameras are merely for surveillance and do not protect the riders.
Mr Sanjeev Dyamnavar, a transport expert from Praaja RAAG, said, "BMRCL lacks an emergency plan. There has to be a rule book on what to do when something happens. This includes how to evacuate, whom to alert and ensuring coordination between law enforcers and Metro officials."
What would happen if irate commuters suddenly start throwing stones, Dyamnavar asked. "To alleviate suffering, to activate emergency plan, to protect Metro property, to restore the stations etc, are the many things that a master plan would contain. The basic plan of action should be available to public as well, just as is the case with Delhi Metro," he pointed out.
Anti-Hindi campaign has CM backing too?
While Metro officials did not respond to calls or messages, going by the tone of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's statements, it appears that the state government is also against supposed imposition of Hindi on Bengalureans. Mr Siddaramaiah has reportedly asked officials to find out what language policy is followed by other non-Hindi speaking states like Kerala and Maharashtra where state languages do not get precedence over Hindi.
Interviewed on a private television channel, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would not directly support the anti-Hindi agitation, saying only that there should be no "imposition of Hindi."
