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You’ll now have to check in 20 minutes before your train departs as Indian Railways has revamped the security procedures.
What Is It?
Railway station security check-ins just got an upgrade, just like how its done at the airport, you will now have to report 20 minutes prior to when your train departs and go through formalities before you board the train.
What’s In It?
As part of the security plan made by the Integrated Security System which was approved in 2016, there will now be a procedure for security purposes from the point of entry until the boarding of the train to strengthen the surveillance system of 202 railway stations in India.
The entire procedure will include CCTV cameras, access control, personal and baggage screening system, bomb detection and disposal system. Reporting on time to the railway station will now be mandatory, you’d have to come at least 20 minutes prior to the departure time to not miss the train.
Railway stations will have random frisking and security checks at the entry points of the station where passengers will have to go through the process. In case of any offenders, they will be subjected to face recognition software that will alert the Railway Protection Force.
Authorities have identified all metro cities and state capitals as sensitive stations and these are included in the list of 202 stations. To prevent pressure during peak hours due to the Kumbh Mela, the Indian Railways has implemented these security measures at the Prayagraj (Allahabad) railway station. The Hubli station in Karnataka is also among other stations in India where the IR has already implemented the security measures.
The Indian Railways has approved the plan to roll out the security measures in all 202 stations, depending on the response they get out of these two.