NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Monday outlined additional steps being planned to prevent a recurrence of the July 11 Mumbai train blasts. These include strengthening the security system for the railway network and the Metros in Delhi and Kolkata.

To a short duration discussion on the Mumbai blasts in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Patil also reiterated the steps he mentioned while replying to an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on July 25. The Bharatiya Janata Party, along with some allies, walked out of the House protesting that Mr. Patil had failed to address their major concerns.

Augmenting strength

Realising that terrorists are targeting the railway network, Mr. Patil said the Railways and other Ministries were working on a plan to change the present security system, which is handled by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and State police in the form of the Government Railway Police (GRP). "If necessary, laws can be changed or new laws introduced" to refine cooperation between the RPF and GRP. The Government was also thinking of augmenting the strength of the two police forces.

The Centre plans to provide better security to the Delhi Metro in the form of more manpower, new equipment and training and sharing the experience of countries that have faced terror on the tracks.

The Kolkata Metro and other metros that may be built would be asked to emulate the Delhi Metro's security plan. Acknowledging the need to take special care of Mumbai in view of its economic importance, Mr. Patil said the State police had been asked to patrol from the skies as well as install close circuit cameras.

Dearth of intelligence

Mr. Patil admitted that there was a dearth of actionable intelligence due to which many terrorist actions could not be prevented. One reason was the low police to people ratio (one policeman for 740 people) in India. The Centre would be raising 300 additional battalions and States too have been asked to increase the strength of their police and intelligence personnel

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