Cologne plans radical measures for cleanliness and safety in subway stations!

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Köln plant Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung von Sicherheit und Sauberkeit in U-Bahnhöfen, um Obdachlosigkeit und Drogenproblematik zu bekämpfen.
Cologne plans to improve security and cleanliness in subway stations to combat homelessness and drug problems. (Symbolbild/MK)

Köln, Deutschland - The Cologne Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) have big plans to improve the security and cleanliness in the city's subway stations. In view of the increasing problem with homelessness and drug use, a package of measures was put together, which not only includes the nightly closure of certain stops, but also other approaches to support the people concerned. KVB CEO Stefanie Haaks emphasizes that some of the measures can be financed from their own resources, while others are dependent on political support. The costs for the complete implementation could be several million euros, but the KVB has to find solutions, since a loss of 131.4 million euros was recorded in 2023 alone, and the city of Cologne also expects high deficits in the future.

A central element of the plan includes the introduction of roller gates at stops that should enable the nightly closure. A pilot project at Appellhofplatz is intended to show whether this measure is effective. In addition, the KVB plans to use a shuttle bus that brings homeless people to emergency sleeping points, as well as offering a "heat room" in a KVB bus. These services could be particularly important in the cold months and require an additional 2.5 million euros for 35 positions that are supposed to be present at 20 hours at 20 hours.

security concept and cleaning measures

Another focus is on an improved security concept that also includes the setting of 38 new employees in order to increase security in the stops. In addition to personalizing security services, more frequent cleaning of the subway stations with special cleaning agents is also required. Parents are concerned about the security of their children on their way to school, which underlines the need for these measures. In addition, passenger manager teams are to be introduced, which on the one hand carry out ticket controls, but also serve as a contact person and should provide more security in the tracks, buses and at the stops, such as radio Erft reported.

The situation of the homeless in Cologne

In the meantime, the question of support for homeless people remains a central topic. The social service of Catholic men (SKM) emphasizes that help is urgently needed for these people and pleads not to simply send them away. Anke Collignon from the SKM points out that many emergency sleeping points are unattractive and often equipped with little privacy. Homelessness is also seen as a result of the tense housing market in Cologne, where the lack of living space and the increased rents lead to a vicious circle. Andreas Ette, an experienced street worker, warns that many people are not adequately treated in precarious situations and decreases social support. This underlines the urgency of creating social living space to address the central problem of homelessness, such as [t-online] (https://www.t-online.de/region/koeln/id_100601934/koeln-obdachlosen-und- and

The KVB therefore faces major challenges, because while it is planning measures to improve, the fundamental problem of the living situation remains in Cologne. The goal must be to meet both the safety needs of passengers as well as to meet the people in need of help and to offer them support.

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OrtKöln, Deutschland
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