Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
The recent assault on a young woman inside a bus at Pune’s Swargate Bus Stand has brought the issue of security at bus stations across the state into sharp focus. The State Transport (ST) department took immediate action, but even after eight days, the central bus stand in the city remains poorly lit. This raises a critical question: Is the bus stand truly safe?
A midnight inspection on Friday revealed that several buses were parked in complete darkness. No efforts were made to prevent unauthorized individuals from approaching these buses. A security audit of bus stations is underway, but there is no clarity on when it will be completed or when the station will be truly secure.
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CCTV cameras
The Central Bus Stand has 94 CCTV cameras, which help in investigating incidents when they occur.
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Who monitors buses at night?
Security at the mercy of fate: On Friday at midnight, no one stopped individuals approaching parked buses in the dark.
Inadequate patrolling by security guards: While security personnel were present at the bus stand, there was a need for increased patrolling, especially in dark areas.
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Who is responsible for safety?
Security guards and police personnel were stationed at the bus stand, but no one was seen questioning individuals wandering in the dark. This raises the question: Who is truly responsible for ensuring safety?
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Is there a police outpost?
There is a police outpost at the Central Bus Stand. On Friday at midnight, it was operational, and police personnel were present.
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"The Security and Vigilance Branch of the central office in Mumbai has issued independent inspection orders to the regional security and vigilance branches, and inspections are currently underway. A comprehensive report will be submitted to the central office, covering key security aspects such as the required number of security guards, adequate lighting arrangements, the height of protective walls, the number of buses staying overnight, the required number of CCTV cameras, passenger movement data, and the presence of a police outpost. According to the Security Branch, all depot heads have been instructed to implement the necessary security measures," said Divisional Controller Sachin Kshirsagar.