Railways to use AI, drones, CCTV to boost safety; urges passenger to stay vigilant
New Delhi, May 21
The Railways are using the latest technology tools like AI, drones, CCTV, etc. intensively to enhance the safety of trains, passengers, station premises and the vast rail network.
This is being undertaken in a mission mode by strengthening the intelligence gathering mechanism at the beat level of the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
According to the Ministry of Railways, in a crucial high-level security review meeting held in New Delhi on Thursday, the Railway Ministry carried out extensive consultations with field officers from across the country in the presence of senior officials in the national capital.
The meeting was chaired by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Rail Bhawan. Ministers of State for Railways V. Somanna and Ravneet Singh Bittu were also present, besides the Chairman, Railway Board.
It was noted during the meeting that in the last few days, the involvement of anti-social elements has emerged during the initial probe into multiple incidents, including some recent fire incidents. Indian Railways has taken these incidents seriously, and the RPF is actively probing them.
In several cases, prompt and proactive action by Railways helped avert major eventualities. It was also felt that, besides strengthening intelligence systems and the use of technology to process inputs faster, Railways will further encourage passengers to actively support efforts in containing anti-social activities during their journey and while waiting at station premises, as per the Ministry.
Railways has thus urged passengers to remain alert and vigilant while travelling. Any suspicious activity or suspicious person noticed on railway premises should be immediately reported on the Railway helpline number 139.
Discussions during the security review meeting focused on strengthening intelligence gathering mechanisms from the field through an improved reporting system. Emphasis was also laid on enhancing technology-driven security systems, expanding CCTV coverage across the railway network, and improving operational security coordination between Railway Board headquarters and field zones, according to the release.
The meeting also highlighted strengthening cyber security, upgrading camera specifications, and deploying AI-based surveillance and monitoring systems.
The meeting further focused on strengthening coordination by improving information-sharing mechanisms between RPF and Government Railway Police for more effective security management across the railway network.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a daily commuter, I appreciate the emphasis on CCTV and AI monitoring. But passengers also need to do our part – reporting suspicious activity on 139 is simple but can save lives. The real test will be how quickly RPF responds to these reports. Fingers crossed! 🤞
Good to see Railways investing in cybersecurity and modern surveillance. But I'm skeptical about the effectiveness of drones in crowded Indian stations. They might be better for tracking train movements on open tracks rather than monitoring platforms. Need a practical approach.
The meeting sounds promising but I remember similar announcements about "Mission Raftaar" and "AI-based signaling" that got delayed for years. Indian Railways needs consistent follow-through, not just press releases. Still, better late than never – let's see action on ground. 😤
It's heartening to see the Railway Minister personally chairing the security review. The helpline number 139 should be more widely advertised – many passengers still don't know about it. Also, please ensure women's safety compartments have dedicated CCTV monitoring. 🙏
All this tech is useless if the basic infrastructure isn't upgraded. I've seen broken CCTV cameras at major stations for months. Before deploying AI and drones, they should first ensure existing security measures work properly. But yes, the direction is good. 😅
K