Railways to install CCTVs in all coaches, locomotives to enhance safety

NEW DELHI: The Indian Railways will install CCTV cameras in all its 74,000 coaches and 15,000 locomotives to enhance safety, the national transporter announced on Sunday. The cameras will be installed in the common movement area, near the doors, of coaches to ensure no breach of privacy of passengers.

In a statement, the ministry said every coach will have four CCTV cameras - two at entry points and two in common areas - and each locomotive will get six of cameras. "High-quality CCTV footage will be ensured even at speeds above 100 kmph and in low-light conditions," it added.

Though the railways had been carrying out a pilot project of installing CCTV cameras for passenger safety, the decision comes days after a woman was allegedly gang-raped inside an empty coach of a stationary train in Panipat.

The decision to install CCTV cameras in all coaches and locomotives will not only prevent crimes, it will also instil a sense of security among passengers. The ministry said CCTV cameras will have the latest specifications and will be certified by the competent agency. " Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has emphasised on deploying the best-in-class equipment. He has asked officials to explore the use of AI on the data captured by CCTV cameras, in collaboration with the IndiaAI Mission," an official said.

The decision to install CCTV cameras in all coaches has been taken after a "positive response" to the pilot project conducted by the Northern Railway .