Security at railway stations

By Kusal Chamath   

Officials of several main railway stations in the Southern Coastal line had yesterday made special security arrangements to check bags and baggage of passengers boarding trains. However the passengers entering the station through either end of the platforms were not subject to any check.  

They expressed concern about hundreds of individuals boarding trains at sub-stations without being checked .  

For example, the officials of Panadura railway station checked the passengers entering the platforms through the main entrance but the passengers boarding trains at sub-stations in the metropolitan area including Egoda Uyana, Koralawella and Ratmalana entered the platforms without being checked.  

Passengers from outstations said similar security gaps prevailed at almost all railway stations on the coastal line. They pointed out that the individuals entering the platforms through unprotected platform ends should be subject to strict security checks.   

They were of opinion that the police could use the Civil Defence Committees to carry out checks at railway stations in the respective areas. Several regular travelers by train pointed out the adequate protection should be provided to the railway line. They pointed out that the Survey system to check the railway line throughout the day as in the past should be implemented again.   

 Meanwhile several long distance evening trains were fully packed with passengers racing against the curfew while many other trains had few passengers.   

Officials of Panadura railway station checked the passengers entering  the platforms through the main entrance but the passengers boarding  trains at sub-stations in the metropolitan area including Egoda Uyana,  Koralawella and Ratmalana entered the platforms without being checked