This is part of a broader move to lock down train safety with the likes of AI surveillance and a more attuned intelligence network, especially in the wake of some fire-related trouble. A top-tier security review in New Delhi has the ministry behind this: it’s about nipping problems in the bud and having your wits about you on the ground.
We’ve had our share of run-ins with unsavoury characters in recent days, as first looks at some cases have made clear. The Railway Protection Force is on it, and in no small number of instances, quick thinking by our people has kept a lid on what could have been much worse.
Technology is going to be the linchpin of this safety overhaul. We are putting in place AI-driven monitoring, shoring up our cyber defences and making sure our cameras are up to snuff so we can react in time.
Upgraded cameras and network-wide monitoring
It’s a mission to put more eyes on things. We’ll be rolling out CCTV in a big way and using tools like drones to cover trains, stations and the rest of the infrastructure. The idea is to have a security model that is as efficient as it is watchful.
With better cameras and a wider net, we should have a clearer view of what’s happening in the coaches and on the platforms. The AI will do the heavy lifting of sifting through the data to spot risks and keep standards even across the board.
Field intelligence and coordination to be overhauled
But it’s not just about the hardware. There is a renewed focus on good old-fashioned ground intelligence. The RPF will be gathering info at the beat level and we have a new way to make sense of it in short order.
You’ll also find us being more in sync between the Railway Board and the field. The review made it plain we need to be sharing information with the Government Railway Police to make sure we don’t miss a step when an incident happens.
Recent incidents sharpen urgency
Take the Rajdhani near Kota: the fire in the bathroom was the start of it. Or in Howrah, where we found a petrol-drenched rag in the washroom of a train that went up. In Sasaram, with the train and its coaches unoccupied and no generator running, it’s a safe bet something was tossed in to burn.
And then there was the matter of an individual in Rajasthan who we believe tried to set some linen alight near Amarpura station. Our teams were on top of it at both Amarpura and Howrah, and officials will tell you that kind of early warning and teamwork is what keeps a situation from spinning out of control.
Passengers’ role and next steps
Even as we work on the back end, we want you to be part of the solution. So we’re telling our travellers to stay sharp and be a thorn in the side of any bad actors they come across, whether in transit or at the station.
Railways has issued two immediate asks for the public:
– Stay alert on trains and at stations
– Report suspicious activity or persons to helpline 139
The whole thing was put in motion by a review at Rail Bhawan with Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the chair, along with V. Somanna, Ravneet Singh Bittu and the Railway Board Chairman. It’s a system-wide effort.
So what you can expect is a two-pronged plan: we’re fast-tracking the tech and overhauling how we get our intel. With the AI, the new cameras and a tighter bond with the RPF and GRP, we intend to make sure operations are secure and that the passenger remains at the heart of it.
