New Delhi: In the wake of the deadly blast near Red Fort, security was stepped up across all major railway stations in the Delhi division of Northern Railway on Tuesday. Officials said they deployed a dog squad and additional forces, and intensified surveillance to prevent any untoward incident at these crowded places. Dog squads were deployed at New Delhi, Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Anand Vihar railway stations while extra personnel from Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Protection Special Force were also placed for round-the-clock monitoring. Senior officials said the focus was on intercepting any suspicious person or item at entry points.“All CCTV cameras were re-examined to ensure they were functioning properly,” said a railway official. “We instructed our personnel to frisk people randomly and check baggage thoroughly. Some passengers complained about inconvenience, but such steps are essential for everyone’s safety. Random checks only strengthen security,” the official added.A close watch is being kept on all parking areas to identify any unattended luggage or vehicle parked for long durations. “If any vehicle appears suspicious, it will be first checked from outside and the owner will be contacted immediately,” said another official.When TOI visited New Delhi Railway Station on Tuesday morning, armed police and RPF personnel were seen carrying out random checks. Barring minor lapses, the overall alert level was high. The number of entry gates was reduced to three for better checks, but the step triggered long queues of passengers waiting to enter the station.Sudhir Sharma, a commuter heading to Kanpur, said long queues were causing delays. “More entry points should be opened. The long queues lead to crowding, which itself can compromise security since police have to monitor more people and more baggage at once,” he added. A police officer at the gate explained, “This entry point is close to the metro, so naturally more people use it. We are managing as best as we can with the additional deployment.“The railways urged passengers to cooperate with security checks, arrive at stations well in advance and immediately report any suspicious activity or unattended items.
