Rawalpindi - Tight security arrangements have been made at Rawalpindi Railway Station to ensure security of passengers with best parking arrangements for visitors, claimed Divisional Commercial Officer Pakistan Railways Raza Habib.

The official said that parking contract of Rawalpindi Railway Station was awarded on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis to a private party, which, he said, invested over Rs3 million for upgrading the parking area. The parking lot has been covered with installation of close-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and floodlights while three booths with imported computerised barriers have also been established to ensure proper checking and keeping record of the visitors including driver, number plate and vehicle footage. Ground surveillance cameras have also been installed to check vehicles, he added.

To a question, Raza said that Pakistan Railways Rawalpindi Division earned over Rs1,864 million during 2017 while 42,56,318 passengers travelled through the rail service during the year. He said that several initiatives had been taken to facilitate the passengers including e-ticketing and duplicate ticket facility.

The DCO further said that two parking lots had been allotted to contractor to facilitate the visitors, adding that the Railways would earn Rs2.15 million per annum through this contract. A special control room has been established where the activities of the visitors are monitored round the clock, he added.

The official said that computerised card system on the pattern of Motorways and Islamabad Airport would be introduced by end of the month to facilitate the visitors.

To a question, he said that the security of the railway station had been beefed up to ensure safety of passengers. Armed police personnel have been deployed at railway station to keep security situation in check, he added.