THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As Kochi Metro is getting ready for commissioning next year, the state police is gearing up to provide a foolproof safety cover exploring foreign models. Government sources said a high-level delegation led by additional chief secretary (home) Nalini Netto would be visiting cities like Lyon and Paris in France to study the safety models in place. The state plans to have a ‘greenfield security policy’ for the metro.
Though the delegation, which also included state police chief Loknath Behera, was scheduled to visit Lyon and Paris this week, it had to be postponed as VVIPs including the Prime Minister are expected to come down to the state for the BJP national meet in Kozhikode over the weekend, said sources. “The Kochi Metro had got some similarities with the metro rails of Paris and Lyon. Hence we plan to visit those regions so that it would help us design a foolproof security cover for Kochi too,” Mr Behera told DC.
With the Kochi Metro scheduled to commence its first phase operation between Aluva and Maharaja’s College by March, the police is considering various options, including setting up a separate security division with police officers on deputation. “Metro is obviously vulnerable to security threats. Security of passengers as well as the infrastructure are equally important. We need to have fool proof security cover at the metro stations, on the moving trains and major installations like the tracks to avert any sabotage attempts,” he said.
