Alert! Railways to bring airport like rules; no boarding for passengers '20-minutes' before the train departure
Alert! Railways to bring airport like rules; no boarding for passengers '20-minutes' before the train departure
The Indian Railways has planned to bring airport-like rules and real train stations just like airports function and passengers will have to reach 15-20 minutes before the scheduled departure of the trains. This will be done to complete the process of security checks.
Following Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, the security plan with high-end technology - has already been put in motion. Kumbh Mela is to begin this month and at Hoobly railway station in Karnataka with a blueprint for 202 more stations ready for implementation, Railway Protection Force Director General Arun Kumar said.
"The plan is to seal the railway stations. It is primarily about identifying openings and to determine how many can be closed. There are areas which will be closed through permanent boundary walls, others will be manned by RPF personnel and yet others will have collapsible gates," he said.
"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," he said.
Kumar said while security will increase, the presence of security personnel will not. "If we are investing in technology, then workforce requirement will reduce," he said.
According to NDTV reports, the ISS will comprise CCTV cameras, access control, personal and baggage screening system and 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 the train. The anticipated cost of the ISS project stands at Rs. 385.06 crores.
"The security plan envisages a layered security check where passengers will be scrutinised even before they enter the station premises to ease the pressure at stations during peak hours," Kumar said.