Railways plan to install CCTV cameras in new coaches

In a bid to provide a sense of security to millions of its passengers, Indian railway authorities are planning to install CCTV camerasin new coaches of nearly 1,000 trains, a senior official said here Sunday.

"We have decided to equip new coaches in some 1,000 trains with high resolution CCTV cameras," said Krishna Choudhary, the director general of the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

Choudhary, who belongs to the Bihar cadre the Indian Police Service, said the decision to install CCTV cameras in coaches was taken in the wake of projected threats, complaints of drugging of passengers and robberies on trains in the last few years.

He said several rounds of consultations between members of Railway Board and its traffic management were carried out and the railway officials have agreed in principle to roll out the plan shortly.

"Motive to equip coaches with CCTV cameras is to cover all security aspects, especially unreserved coaches to foil drugging and dacoities on board," he said.

According to him, installation of CCTVs in general coaches would be taken up first in zones where drugging of passengers and crimes on running trains have been reported frequently.

Besides, he said all RPF train escort parties would have smart mobiles to establish contact and collect evidence and report to seniors in real time.

At present, RPF and the Government Railway Police escort over 3,500 trains daily across India.