New security measures have been implemented on an experimental basis on the University of Pune (UoP) campus. To start with, entry of vehicles is being restricted with barricades at the major entrances, beginning with the Inter University Centre of Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) gate.
The new arrangements came into force when traffic started building up at the IUCAA gate during the peak hours in the morning. Security guards have barricaded the gate, stating that vehicles either having a sticker of the UoP or identity card to be allowed in.
The occupants of other vehicles that use the gate have to state the department they want to visit and their numbers are being noted down. Maruti Kedari, chief security officer at UoP, confirmed that new measures for tightening security had been put in place on an experimental basis.
“It’s like a pilot initiative. There are plans like building a chowki, permanent barricades, CCTV surveillance, recording entry and exit of every vehicle at the gates leading to the university. But we didn’t know if it would be well accepted and if it is feasible to invest so much money in a security revamp. So we have started implementing the measures in small ways,” he said.
Parking of vehicles on the UoP is restricted, confirmed Kedari, and outside vehicles would find it difficult to get a place on the campus. “It is being done to keep track of every vehicle entering the UoP campus. These measures are part of a bigger plan being contemplated by seniors,” said Kedari.
Recently, DNA had reported about the security of the UoP undergoing a revamp with a proposal for more than 100 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and other measures.
