Hole in BIA’s security

Hole in BIA’s security

While the international airport is heavily guarded, there are no cops at the Trumpet Interchange Flyover, said to be the ‘entrance gate’ to BIA

SUCHITH KIDIYOOR



There are scores of security personnel manning the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) but not one cop to provide security at Trumpet Interchange Flover, considered the gateway to BIA.
The BMTC staff seem to be the worst-affected as the driver of the state-owned transport bus was assaulted by some miscreants who got into the bus here recently. Though thousands of vehicles ply over and under the flyover everyday, there is none to provide security at the KSRTC terminus under the flyover. The situation gets worse in the night.
TIPSY TROUBLE
Manju, a driver-cum-conductor of a shuttle bus service that operates between Trumpet Interchange and BIA, is the victim.
Five miscreants, three of them drunk, boarded the bus at the flyover near the Trumpet Interchange at night, threatened him with knives and asked him to reroute the bus to Yelahanka. When he refused, they assaulted him.
Manju, who is attached to Puttenahalli depot, telephoned the depot manager, who asked him not to reroute the bus. However, the miscreants were in no mood to listen. With no option left, Manju drove towards Yelahanka. Manju said, “They had threatened to snatch the ticket collection amount. As there was no one around, I had to move towards Yelahanka.”
As they approached the Chikkajala police station near the national highway, he stopped the bus. Alarmed, the miscreants assaulted Manju and ran away.
The incident has sent shockwaves among the BMTC staff who operate round-the-clock service at the interchange.
The driver of a shuttle service said, “Hundreds of visitors come here. The shuttle buses drop employees, including women from companies located near BIA, in the night. But there are no police personnel to safe- guard them.”
‘ONUS ON KSRTC’
When contacted, a BMTC official said, “The Trumpet Interchange bus stand comes under KSRTC and it is their responsibility to ensure the safety of passengers.”
Narasimha Swami, subinspector, International Airport police station, said, “No one has reported the incident (assault on the driver). We will deploy police personnel to safeguard the passengers and employees of transport corporation.” CHINK IN THE ARMOUR
BMTC buses between Trumpet Interchange and BIA
4 Distance 7 km
Frequency
Every 15 min
Number of people commuting every day
100s
Policemen guarding the flyover near Trumpet Interchange
0