New Delhi: Passengers boarding a train would now have to report at the station at least 20 minutes before departure for completing the security checking process.
This is because railways are putting up an exhaustive full-proof security measure at 202 stations across the country include in Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack. Frisking of passengers is integral to this system.
“At each entry point there will be random security checks. However, unlike at airports, passengers need not come hours in advance, but just 15-20 minutes ahead of their departure times to ensure that they are not delayed because of the security process,” Railway Protection Force (RPF) Director General Arun Kumar has told news agency PTI.
The measures have already been implemented at Allahabad in view of the upcoming Kumbh Mela and at Hubli railway station in Karnataka, he said.
In 2016, Railways had approved a Rs 385.06 crore security plan under the integrated security system to strengthen the surveillance mechanism keeping in mind the heightened threat perception in key installation and railway properties.
The plan entailed installation of CCTV cameras at station premises, access control, personal and baggage screening system, bomb detection and disposal system which together provide multiple checking of passengers and baggage from the point of entry in the station premises till boarding of train.
It also called for sealing all openings to the station premises and strict manning of the entry gates. The RPF DG said that while the openings will be closed through permanent boundary walls, others will be manned by RPF personnel and yet others will have collapsible gates. At each entry point there will be random security checks. However, unlike at airports, passengers need not come hours in advance, but just 15-20 minutes ahead of their departure times to ensure that they are not delayed because of the security process”.
A senior railway official, however, told Odisha Bytes that the comprehensive security plan needs active support of the state government for implementation. There are geographical and administrative challenges which railways needs to overcome. Implementation of the measures could prove nightmare especially in big cities and key metros such as Mumbai where crowd management in itself is a challenge.
He informed that during this year, Railways also intend to build 3,300 km of walls at the cost of Rs 1,000 crore along railway tracks in critical stretches of the country.
Building a fence will also help the railways check trespassing as well as prevent encroachments of railway property. He said several state governments had also requested for help to build fences along railway tracks to prevent untoward incident.
