Don't be surprised if you spot stationmasters on the Konkan Railways shrieking wildly and throwing punches in the air -- they are just practising their karate moves.
Konkan Railways boasts of a unique security system that relies on the karate skills of its employees.
"We decided on this system as we don't have the Government Railway Police. Around one-third of our 3,400 employees have received basic training in karate," said B Rajaram, Managing Director, Konkan Railways.
He added that after two years of training, 12 black-belt grade employees have been appointed as senior vigilantes to provide a safe journey to passengers on Konkan railways.
He explained that there has been an increase in the number of employees taking up the martial art as they are offered incentives and promotions.
"We have put in place a system of incentives and promotions for learning karate. Higher the grade attained by the employee, more the incentive," Rajaram said.
Rajaram visualises a system wherein all station masters and passenger assistants are proficient in karate. He had mastered the art himself before starting this mission in 2002.
More from rediff