Kochi: An additional 80 personnel of the State Industrial Security Force (SISF) was deployed for ensuring safety at metro stations, however, the Kochi Metro Special Police are yet to be extended accommodation facilities, putting lives of many cops, especially women, hailing from outside districts in difficulty. The reason – a clarity is yet to be arrived on whether the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) or the state government is responsible for providing the same.
“A total of 215 personnel, including 29 women, have so far been deployed. A majority of them are hailing from districts like Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kollam and Idukki. Among the women personnel too, many are coming from as far as Alappuzha and Kottayam. Though we’re promised accommodation facilities, the same is yet to be provided despite over three months of metro operations getting over,” said an officer on condition of anonymity. A spokesperson said the KMRL is not entrusted with provision of accommodation. “We’ve repeatedly requested the state government to bear the expenses as it is a sovereign duty. The expenses are borne either by the Centre or the respective state government in other Metros. As far as accommodation is concerned, we’ve nothing to do in it,” the spokesperson said.
P Vijayan, Inspector General of Police, Kochi Range, said the department had already written to the KMRL on the matter. “KMRL is an independent agency and is bound to make all the necessary arrangements, including accommodation, for the SISF officers serving it,” the officer said. He pointed out that the personnel deployed at the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) and the Bharat Corporation Petroleum Ltd (BPCL) are being provided with accommodation facilities.
The personnel, while being extended the same pay as of their Kerala Police counterparts, had to go through a tough selection process. “Though there were many applicants from Kochi, many of them got rejected as only graduates were considered and also the candidates have to get through sports qualification process,” he said. The personnel were drawn from the Kerala Armed Police wing and posted to the SISF on deputation basis for a period of three years for security purposes of the Kochi Metro. The overall operational command of the security personnel is vested with the Inspector General of Police, Kochi Range, while the administrative and disciplinary control is vested with the commandant, SISF.
