Chandigarh railway station is open for one and all. The station, which is to be developed as a world-class railway station, has unrestricted access to all from both entrances and on all platforms.
However, the station is still facing a major problem that it lacks enough security guards, non-functional doorframe metal detector and bag scanning machine for safeguard of both the station and travellers. And, most vulnerable is the entrance from Panchkula which is an easy entrance for anti-social elements.
While the absence of security guards is noticeable, the baggage scanner-an important security device is also seen nowhere at both the entrance of the railway station. Anyone can carry restricted objects in their bags into the station. Even as three authorities - Railway Protection Force (RPF), Railway Administration and Government Railway Police (GRP) - are jointly responsible for the safety of passengers, major security provisions are missing from Chandigarh railway station.
When contacted, Inspector Vijender Singh, Railway security (RPF) said “At present, we have no baggage scanning machines here. This security provision depends on future plans”. When contacted SHO of GRP wing Inspector Vishraam said, “We have restricted the security here.” He refused to provide any further information on the issue.
Even as renovation and beautification plans of Chandigarh Railway Station were made during the tenure of former Railway Minister and local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal, no changes are made in the security provisions of the station.