Indian Railways will soon develop twin-training facilities in Andhra Pradesh to train its security personnel and also impart commando training to the Railways Protection Force (RPF) jawans. The move is aimed at meeting the newer security challenges posed to the national transport monolith. Sharing the details of the move, a senior official of the Railway Board said, “Both these institutions will come up in Andhra Pradesh and we have identified land for the purpose.”
The new National Academy of Railway Security, which is going to be the first of its kind, will be set up in Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh for which 33 acres of land has already been acquired. The Academy will provide training to personnel both Indian (RPF & GRP) and foreign in rail-related security management. Railways have also earmarked 244 acres of land for setting up a Commando Training Centre for RPF in Andhra Pradesh for which work has already been started. In view of increased threat perception in the recent past, there is a need for in-house facility for commando training of RPF/RPSF personnel, the official said, adding that the proposal for setting up a commando training institute was approved in 2015 by Parliament.
Noting that Indian Railways have already initiated several measures to strengthen safety and security at rail premises, the official informed that currently about 1,300 trains on an average are escorted by RPF in addition to 2,200 trains escorted by Government Railway Police (GRP) of different states on a daily basis. A security helpline number “182” has been operational in the areas covered by each zonal office to enable rail passengers including women in distress to seek security-related assistance round-the-clock.
