Getting your bags scanned at Delhi metro stations to be more convenient, here's how

DMRC has installed 34 baggage scanners with specialised commuter-friendly features in major stations Kashmere Gate, AIIMS, Vishwavidyalaya, HUDA City Centre among others.

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The DMRC has begun phasing in highly modern and state-of-the-art luggage scanners at its metro stations to give additional safety and security to passengers, according to officials. The new scanners will be more convenient for the elderly, ladies, and children travellers while lifting and placing large baggage items through the system for scanning, Presently, 34 such baggage scanners with specialised commuter-friendly features have already been installed at major stations at Kashmere Gate, AIIMS, Vishwavidyalaya, HUDA City Centre, Rajouri Garden, Mayur Vihar Ph-1, NOIDA Sec-18, Palam, replacing the older X-BIS systems, the DMRC said.

Gradually, over 250 more such baggage scanners will be installed across all Delhi Metro stations by the year-end. At present, there are around 400 X-BIS machines installed at different metro stations across the DMRC network, it said.

"In order to further upgrade and strengthen the X-Ray baggage Scanning System (X-BIS System) at the security frisking points of Metro stations, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has started introducing highly advanced and state-of-the-art baggage scanners at its Metro stations in a phased manner," the DMRC said in a statement.

These advanced baggage scanners are fitted with additional features, including faster baggage clearance, enhanced and effective surveillance, inclined input and output conveyor and continuous audio-video monitoring, the urban transporter said.

These scanners will now be capable of handling up to 550 bags per hour which used to be around 350 bags per hour earlier. For this, the conveyor belt speed has been increased from 18 cm per second to 30 cm per second. Officials said this is intended to reduce the heavy passenger rush at the frisking points, especially during peak hours.

The advanced features in these newly introduced baggage scanners will ensure extra safety and security to the passengers and will also be more convenient for the elderly and women commuters while lifting up and putting in heavy baggage items for scanning, they said.

Also, during the scanning, newly installed large-size monitors with high-resolution images will ensure quick and instant assessment of any explosive or arms threat. Moreover, the baggage inspection will be capable of X-ray penetration up to even 35 mm thick steel plates, the statement said.

"The modified X-BIS system will have a manually adjustable and extendable inclined conveyor belt system which can be lowered down while putting in the baggage and same at the output. This will especially help the elderly passengers to easily put their baggage on a low-level conveyer," it added.

And a 360-degree camera mounted just above the baggage scanner will be able to capture clear audio and video footage of the X-BIS process, which may be useful in case of any untoward incident such as theft, or altercation between commuters, security staff etc., officials said.

Other supporting provisions available for the baggage operator (CISF staff) on duty in the scanning machine comprise charging ports for wireless sets, hand-held metal detectors and mobile phones etc., provision of a water bottle hanger and multi-utility movable rack for placing uniforms and other essential items, it added. 

With inputs from PTI