RTR2LOVW.jpg (Photo : Reuters)
Officials and additional police officers, expecting the city's subway network to be filled with people, moved in together with their detection dogs in preparation for a hectic New Year's Eve at the Metro.
Over 10 million individuals were handled by the Metro as of 10:40 p.m. on New Year's Eve, topping the previous year's head count by more than a million people.
The People's Square station, one of China's largest interchanges in the railway system and reputedly the busiest in the entire country, was manned by 13 officials, said officer Ning Jiawei to Shanghai Daily.
At least 40 armed police officers were helping out to maintain peace and order, he added.
Detection dogs were roaming around to aid in sniffing out possible dangerous items and substances such as flammables, explosives and the like.
Police officers were scattered around to prevent any incidents, carrying with them essential police equipment such as handcuff, firearms, tear gas and a baton in the event of a physical altercation.
"The evening peak came much earlier than usual today," said a second official, Zhou Jiaxin.
"But you can split it into three distinct parts," he said.
"The first was when people were heading home from work, the second will come between 9 and 10 p.m. as people finish their New Year's Eve dinners, and the third from midnight onward after people have enjoyed the countdown events," said Zhou.
Operating hours were also extended aside from the extra security.
Last trips left the stations at 12:25 a.m. on both lines.
