Airport-like security a huge challenge for Coimbatore Jn

Coimbatore: Soon, you may have to arrive more than an hour before the departure time to catch a train from the Coimbatore Junction or risk missing it while waiting in a queue to get your baggage screened.
Coimbatore Junction, being an A1 station, might be one of the 200 stations selected to have airport-like security. While some infrastructure to install such a system is in place, time and space management in the station, which sees 30,000 people a day, is likely to be a challenge.

According to the railway protection force, which has already started trying the new security system in Allahabad for the Kumbh Mela and in Hubli, at least 202 railway stations are ready to implement airport-like security system permanently.

Out of the 73 trains passing through the station, at least 12 depart between 7pm and 10.30pm. The four originating trains of the 12, every evening, can accommodate about 2,000 passengers each. But a flight can accommodate only 150 passengers.

“We have not got an official communication about Coimbatore being selected. If it is, we will have to increase manpower, screening machines, screening station and space on platforms for the passengers, who arrive early,” a senior railway protection force official said.

The station has five entry and exit points—the front entrance, back entrance, escalator entrance straight to platform 1A, entry from Goodshed Road straight to platform VI and entry from Uppilipalayam into platform 1A. “Almost 80% of the passengers use the front or back entrances. The remaining use the escalator entrance into platform 1A. Very few use the entrances straight into platforms,” said the official. “While we might close a few entry and exit points during non-rush hours, during rush hours, we may open the other three lesser used entrances better so the departure passengers can be spread out better.”

The railway station already has 72 CCTV cameras and two baggage screening machinesone at each entrance. The station has five metal detectors and about 52 RPF staff manning the facility.

“We will need to increase the manpower by another 50 to 60 people. The number of baggage screening machines too has to be increased, at least doubled, depending on the number of entry points,” the official added.