Central government to increase security in trains; decision to install 360-degree CCTV cameras

NEW DELHI: Indian Railways has decided to install CCTV in trains for the safety of passengers. The decision is based on the successful trial of CCTV cameras in passenger coaches. CCTV cameras will be installed near the doors in order to protect the privacy of passengers, the Railways said in a press release.

The decision was taken in a railway meeting held yesterday. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu reviewed the progress of the installation of CCTV cameras in locomotives and coaches. The Railways is in the process of implementing the project across the country. Railway officials said that CCTV has been successfully tested in loco engines and coaches of the Northern Railway.

360-degree cameras will be installed in trains. The Union Railway Minister has given permission to install CCTV cameras in 74,000 coaches and 15,000 locomotives. Each railway coach will have four dome CCTV cameras, two in each entrance way, and each locomotive will have six CCTV cameras. One camera each will be installed at the front, rear and both sides of the locomotive. One dome CCTV camera and two desk-mounted microphones will be installed in each cab of the locomotive (front and rear).

The CCTV cameras will have the latest specifications and will be STQC certified, indicating good quality, the officials said. The Union Minister directed the railway officials to ensure that high-quality visuals are available for trains running at speeds above 100 kmph and in low-light conditions. The Union Railway Minister also asked the officials to explore the use of AI on the data captured by CCTV cameras in collaboration with the IndiaAI Mission, the press release said.