Kochi: The Kochi Metro which is on the track of success in terms of professionalism in management and public participation seems to be facing a crisis many other mass transport systems struggle to overcome – free rides.
Alleged free rides by police personnel on the metro trains have irked the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) authorities who have lodged a complaint with the top cops.
The KMRL finance director has filed a complaint with the Range IG with a copy being forwarded to the city police commissioner and the rural SP. However, the police authorities who have done a preliminary investigation, have downplayed the allegations, saying it was not proper to paint the cops in charge of security in the metro stations and trains in a negative shade.
The KMRL, in its complaint, said that the policemen forcefully enter the metro coaches without buying tickets. It also requested the authorities to give instruction that all police officers should get tickets to take the metro, just like the other metro services in the country.
The police officials said the security of the metro stations and trains have been entrusted to the State Industrial Security Force (SISF) which was formed by the last government in the model of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). A group of 128 SISF personnel has been deployed at all the metro stations from Aluva to Palarivattom. They are in charge of baggage clearance and operation of the metal detectors at the stations.
“The coordinating officers in charge of this group have to travel to different stations and they have no other means as they are not allotted with vehicles. Adding to their woes, the SISF does not have a unit in Kochi. In such situations some of the officers had to take the metro trains,” the authorities' findings say.
The police department has expressed displeasure that the KMRL has blown the matter out of proportion with the complaint. It is learnt that the police might ask the KMRL to issue special passes for the SISF officers who will have to take rides in the metro trains as part of their duty.