Worried over frequent train robberies, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of security personnel from less important activities to strengthen passenger security. He said they would be directly recruited by the Railway Security Department instead of Railway Recruitment Boards.

"To start with, manpower has been withdrawn from certain less important activities so that passenger security takes precedence over protection of property," he said while presenting the Rail Budget for 2004-05.

To strengthen security in Railways, the minister said it has been decided to restore the earlier procedure of direct recruitment by the security department itself instead of through the Railway Recruitment Boards.

"This will expedite the availability of manpower and strengthen the force", he said.

Prasad said consequent upon amendments to the Railways Act, 1989 and Railway Protection Force Act, 1957, both the Railways and the Railway Police Force has been entrusted with additional responsibilities like escorting passenger trains in vulnerable areas and to have control on access and regulation and general security at platforms to supplement the efforts of state police/General Railway Police for enhanced security of the passengers.

Both the amended Acts have come into force on July 1, 2004.