Railway Protection Force, Dhanbad, is planning to use social media tools such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter to reach out to passengers and share relevant information to ensure better security.
Two separate WhatsApp groups are being developed, one at the divisional level and another at the post level, while creation of Facebook and Twitter accounts are in the offing.
Dhanbad's divisional security commissioner Achutanand Jha will head the divisional level group to connect with all RPF commandants, assistant commandants and inspector of RPF posts for the coal town.
The second group under the RPF post level is to be headed by inspector of Dhanbad RPF B.M. Mishra and include all sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, head constables and constables.
"Besides the WhatsApp groups, we are also in the process of developing Facebook and Twitter accounts at the divisional level so that passengers can communicate with us to share their views and make suggestions regarding improvement in services," said Jha and added that computers and Internet connectivity were being arranged for at the RPF post level.
Talking about the advantage of WhatsApp groups, Inspector Mishra said that official documents and information could be shared instantly with the groups.
"We will need to develop two separate groups at the Dhanbad RPF post level as the strength of the Dhanbad post is 110 while WhatsApp allows a maximum of 100 members in a group," he said.
Those who do not have smart phones are being motivated to buy one.
"We have started the group on a trial basis, which is likely to be fully functional ahead of Republic Day," he added.
WhatsApp groups are being created at railway board and zonal level as well.
All IG and DIG level officers including chief security commissioners, additional chief security commissioners and deputy chief security commissioners of all 21 zones across the country will be connected with each other through the Railway board level WhatsApp group headed by director general of RPF Rajiv Ranjan Verma.
The zonal level group would be developed under all 21 chief security commissioners at zonal level to connect with all the divisional security commissioners or senior commandants, commandants and assistant commandants of different zones.
"We can forward any information to the divisional level and if the information is relevant enough then it can be forwarded to the board and zonal level as well," Mishra said.
