Defunct Luggage Scanner at Secunderabad Railway Station Raises Safety Concerns

Hyderabad: The luggage scanner at the ever busy Secunderabad railway station has been lying defunct for the last three weeks raising concerns about the safety of passengers. What has shocked the passengers more is a paper with the message ‘The baggage scanner is not working’, pasted prominently on the scanner that is installed at the entrance of gate no 4 on platform 1.

Secunderabad railway station has been a vital installation after Agnipath protests in June last year and also in view of the constant alerts from intelligence agencies. Furthermore, security has been beefed up and armed personnel have also been deployed after the model code of conduct came into force on October 9. Regular checks are being conducted by government railway police and railway protection force personnel.

Despite the heightened security arrangement, the luggage scanner that spots prohibited articles is lying defunct.

Security officials told Deccan Chronicle that the machine has been non-functional since October 10. However, in view of the delay of a Maharashtra vendor in attending to its repair, the machine lies inoperative.

“An adequate number of personnel are manning the railway station 24x7. If they notice any suspicious luggage or articles, they are checked with hand held metal detectors. Door frame metal detectors are in place at all entrance points. Immediate action will be taken if any violations are noticed,” officials said.