KOCHI: Even as the Ernakulam Junction Railway Station is all set to become hi-tech with the introduction of luggage and parcel scanners, railway authorities and the public are sceptical of the practicality of using such a costly machine.“Luggage scanners are not practical in a station that does not even have proper boundary walls. Illegal activities and luggage trafficking take place through the unprotected areas of the station. Security has to be stepped up first by closing the open boundary walls,” a railway source said.According to railway officials, the luggage scanner will be introduced in the first and second entrances of the station. “This is part of the integrated surveillance system, which will soon be introduced in other railway stations in the state.” The luggage scanner will be able to clearly identify every object in the customer’s luggage. RPF Commissioner K J Joy said: “The specialty of the scanner is that it has the potential to store information of each and every luggage scanned for a period of 30 days.”At present, there is a luggage scanner at Thiruvananthapuram Central. But, according to passengers, the officials hardly use it. Joy said: “We only use the baggage system whenever we feel there is an emergency or a need to use it. Lack of space, time and staff is the other reason that does not allow the inspection of all passengers.”A parcel scanner will also be set up at the parcel office. Meanwhile, railway authorities are considering the viability of setting up a vehicular scanner at the railway station. But it is prone to water clogging. “There is a possibility of it getting damaged. We are looking at the benefits,” an RPF official said.
Comments
0 comment