Metro police station to start functioning by June

The Kochi metro police station, set up exclusively to maintain law and order on the metro rail stretch between Aluva and Pettah, is slated to start functioning by June.

In a meeting held here on Thursday, officials of the Police Department and Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) drew out the modalities for the station, to be functioned out of a renovated building near Cusat metro station at Kalamassery. City Police Commissioner M.P. Dinesh briefed the responsibilities and powers of the force during the meet held at Kalamassery AR camp conference hall. Further, a reception committee comprising representatives of political leaders, district police, KMRL and residents’ associations was also constituted. Official sources said the inaugural date of the new facility would be finalised based on the convenience of the Chief Minister.

Currently, any offence or crime committed inside metro trains and stations are dealt by the police station in the respective area. However, with the launch of the force, which has jurisdiction over the entire metro stations, track and trains in the Aluva-Pettah section besides Muttom yard, such cases will be directly handled by the metro police.

The station will be headed by an official in the inspector rank and personnel will be drawn from the Kochi city and Ernakulam rural police. They will be given specialised training for dealing with security issues in metro trains besides detecting explosives. They will also undergo training in handling latest communication devices. The Metro Rail Police will have 29 posts including a Circle Inspector and two Sub Inspectors and 13 of the personnel will be women.