Beijing launched new subway security checks on Sunday, focusing on screening for guns, ammunition, knives, inflammables, explosives, and radioactive and poisonous articles. From the end of June to September, during which the Beijing Olympics and the Paralympics will be held, Beijing subway passengers will face security checks carried out by machines, police and dogs at all stations.

The Beijing News carries a commentary saying that it is necessary to adopt such measures to ensure passengers safety during the Olympic Games. As a metropolitan city, Beijing now owns five subway lines with 140 kilometers of track, transporting millions of passengers every day.

While urban track transport plays an important role in people's daily life, to ensure subway security has a lot to do with people's vital interests. Meanwhile, it is also an international convention to launch subway security checks during grand events. For instance, Canada has installed screen machines at its subway stations in preparation for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

The paper goes on to stress that the Beijing subway staff should chalk out effective ways to ensure smooth passenger flow while conducting security checks. Beijing's subway is already packed with people, especially during peak hours. As security checks would take extra time, more passengers may be stranded at stations. The paper suggests that stations employ more personnel to screen passengers during peak hours.

Meanwhile, the paper also says that passengers should be understanding and cooperative. If there are inadvertent delays, they should maintain order and not be fussy. After all, it is for the sake for their safety that the security checks have been introduced.