Indian Railways to Equip All Trains with CCTV for Enhanced Safety

New Delhi: Indian Railways has announced a comprehensive plan to install CCTV cameras across all 74,000 passenger coaches and 15,000 locomotives to bolster passenger safety, according to a statement from the Ministry of Railways on Sunday. This decision follows successful pilot projects conducted by Northern Railway, prompted by a recent incident involving an alleged gang-rape in an empty coach in Panipat.

Each passenger coach will be fitted with four dome-type CCTV cameras, positioned with two at each entrance to monitor common areas while respecting passenger privacy. Locomotives will be equipped with six cameras, including one at the front, one at the rear, and one on each side, with additional dome cameras and two desk-mounted microphones in each cab. The ministry emphasized that these cameras will deliver high-quality footage, even at speeds exceeding 100 kmph and in low-light conditions.

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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who reviewed the initiative alongside Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu and senior Railway Board officials on Saturday, has directed the use of state-of-the-art equipment. The cameras will be certified by the Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) directorate to ensure reliability. Vaishnaw also encouraged officials to explore integrating artificial intelligence with the CCTV data, in collaboration with the IndiaAI Mission, to enhance security measures.
The initiative aims to deter criminal activities, including organized crime and petty theft, fostering a safer travel environment for passengers. The ministry highlighted that the strategic placement of cameras near coach entrances will help prevent incidents while maintaining passenger privacy.