Is safety our primary concern?

 Even as the city faces security threats quite often, authorities do not seem to be serious about the issue.

 The Police department has failed to monitor the installation of CCTV cameras and other surveillance systems at prominent places including the City Railway Station and BMTC Bus Stand.

 While police personnel are deployed at the main entrance of the City Railway Station, there are two other entries; the entry gate from Oklipuram and the one from Mahatma Gandhi Colony, which allows people to enter the station without any security check.

 There are no metal detectors at the main entrance while the other one on platform number eight is not functional.

 “Metal detectors are sent for repairs.

 We have CCTV cameras installed in many parts of the station and our security personnel are monitoring it,” Suvankar Biswas, PRO at Bangalore City Railway Station said.

 Speaking about unauthorised entries to the station he said, “Unlike airports, railway stations cannot be a closed environment.

 So, it is difficult to monitor everyone entering the station.

’’ Many opt for unauthorised entries to save time.

 “I travel by train daily.

 I take the Oklipuram side entrance to reach platform number 10 as it saves time,” said Gurumurthy, a student.

 Besides, two LCD display units were stolen last month despite CCTV cameras and men in khakee deputed at the station.

 Ironically, the CCTV cameras could not provide evidence to capture the thieves.

 The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mir Arif Ali had asserted that the CCTV installed in the station produces poor quality video.

 So is the case in BMTC Bus Stand.

 The Bus Stand seems to be in a worse condition; neither is it installed with CCTV camera nor does it have any functional Metal Detector Machines.

 There are around 13 entries to the Bus Stand and no security personnel is deputed at any entrance.

 “Metal detectors were faulty.

 We will make sure that they are replaced soon,” said D Devraj, Divisional Traffic Officer, KBS.

 “Survey has been done for the installation of CCTV cameras and it will be installed in a week or two,” he added.

 The terminus has a capacity of handling 4,500 BMTC buses which ferry around seven lakh commuters a day.

 Approximately 55 buses enter the terminal every minute.

 There are 15 policemen who guard both KSRTC and BMTC bus stand round the clock.

 But, most of them were just armed with nothing but a ‘Lathi’.

 Lack of adequate security measures have made commuters feel insecure.

 “We cannot wait for more than 15 minutes here.

 If we do, men keep staring at us and some pass comments and that make us uncomfortable.

 With no sponsible authority around, it becomes very difficult to file a complaint,” said Sowmya, a student