A recent reality check by TOI has exposed significant security lapses at major railway stations in Lucknow, with X-ray baggage scanners and metal detectors found either underutilized or non-operational. This comes in the wake of a gruesome discovery of a dismembered body on a train, prompting heightened scrutiny of passenger entry arrangements.
Gomti Nagar Railway Station
At Gomti Nagar railway station, no security personnel were observed monitoring the X-ray baggage scanner or ensuring baggage checks before passengers entered the platforms. Police presence at entry and exit gates was also limited, raising concerns about the effectiveness of security measures.
Lucknow Junction
Similarly, at Lucknow Junction, baggage scanners and metal detectors were installed but passengers were seen entering the platforms without undergoing mandatory screening. No officials were present near the machines to guide passengers for luggage checks, rendering the equipment ineffective.
Charbagh Railway Station
The baggage scanner at Charbagh railway station was found non-operational, with officials citing ongoing construction work as the reason for the malfunction. All X-ray baggage scanners and metal detectors in city railway stations are managed by the Railway Protection Force (RPF). An official source stated, "Instructions have again been issued to ensure compliance with security checklist, specially regular checks of baggage via x-ray scanner."
Context of the Security Audit
The issue has come into focus after the Government Railway Police (GRP) began investigating the recovery of an unidentified woman's dismembered body from the Chhapra Gomti Nagar Express on Sunday. Five parts of the dismembered body were found inside a box and a heavy-duty cargo bag in the S1 sleeper coach after the train reached Gomti Nagar railway station. Sanitation workers noticed the unclaimed items during cleaning operations after the train completed its journey. This incident has highlighted the urgent need for strict enforcement of security protocols at railway stations.
