City's safety pinch

We found serious security lapses after visiting many spotsu00a0-- from non-functional metal detectors, to unchecked entries, to total negligenceu00a0-- the city has it allEven after the chief minister directing the city police to upgrade security in and around Bangalore in the wake of a possible terror strike, the response seems to be lukewarm. MiD DAY took a look at some of the city 'hot' spots, and this is what we found:Pics/Satish Badiger and Sanjay MDCity railway stationNumber of deployed personnel: 60 (at the main gate)Security arrangements: Gate keeper, dog squad and metal detectorNumber of footfalls: Over 3 lakh per dayThe city railway station has two gates. The main gate has more than 60 police personnel and state police and dog squad regularly make their rounds.We found: Back gate has no security personnel or metal detectorsVidhana SoudhaNumber of deployed personnel: Over 100 Security arrangements: Gatekeepers, metal detectors, CCTVs, outside and inside the premisesNumber of footfalls: About 10,000 on working days On the surface, the place seems more secure than any other locations we checked. But we spotted vehicles being just waved in, without real scrutiny. Visitors flash their identity cards and enter the premises.Keeping a possible terror strike in mind, 20 extra personnel have been deployed. We found: If you have a vehicle and an identity card, you'll be simply waved in.u00a0Karnataka High CourtNumber of deployed personnel: 40 Security arrangements: Metal detectors inside the premisesNumber of footfalls: About 10,000 on working daysAfter the murder of a woman lawyer in July, there were orders to increase security. But even after five months, no work has begun. PSI C M Ramegowda said, We are managing with what we have.We found: No metal detectors for checking vehiclesKempegowda bus stand, MajesticNumber of deployed personnel: Two police personnel, a Hoysala vehicle and a Cheetah vehicleSecurity arrangements: 2 metal detectors, no CCTVsNumber of footfalls: Over 5 lakh per dayCity's most crowded bus stand is also the most exposed, with only two policemen and no private security. Though the bus stand has two metal detectors, they have been defunct since November. With over 10,000 city buses coming here everyday, it does not have a single CCTV. A traffic officer who did not wish to be named, said, The metal detectors have not been working for the last few days, but will be repaired soon.We found: No CCTV's; metal detectors have stopped working.Shivajinagar bus standNumber of deployed personnel: Two police personnel, a Hoysala vehicle and two CheetahsSecurity arrangements: 18 CCTVsNumber of footfalls: About 2 lakh per dayThere is no entrance gate, and people can come in from any side.u00a0 Sujjan Rao Assistant Traffic Manager said, We have enough security here with 18 CCTVs and a police patrol. We found: Only two cops to keep an eye on over 2 lakh commuters.KSRTC bus stand, MajesticNumber of deployed personnel: Five police and 10 private security personnelKind of security arrangements: Dog squad and metal detectorsNumber of footfalls: Over 4 lakh per dayAround 10,000 buses (interstate included) go through this bus stand everyday.u00a0 But the bus stand has no gate at all, so commuters can go in or out unchecked.u00a0 The bus stand has three cops during the day and two at night. The metal detectors are hardly put to use.We found: Metal detectors hardly used, No CCTV's.