THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The scheme of fitting CCTV in trains is moving at a snail's pace across the country. Three months ago, the railway gave a contract of Rs 705 crore to do the surveillance system in 11,000 trains across the country. Nevertheless, only Rajadhani, Duronto, and Shatabdi express have hitherto completed the fittings.

Most of the cameras fitted are in trains running across north India. Occasionally, some glimpses of LBH coaches with cameras are seen in the south of the country. In 2015, the Kerala Express was fitted with cameras in a step to bolster women's safety. It was funded by the central government's Nirbhaya fund. However, the move lost pace and never got carried through.

It was after the shocking murder of Soumya by assailant Govindacahmi that the government deliberated moves to install cameras inside train.Rs 12 lakhs was spent to install cameras across 9000 stations and trains in India. A coach will have eight cameras according to the plan. RPF and officials in divisional and zonal offices can monitor the videos in real-time.

The newly touted Vande Bharat is equipped with a high surveillance system. After the repeated number of assaults on ladies, the Mumbai local trains were also fitted with cameras. However, the move fell apart in Kerala as no trains here have proper camera functioning including the Shatabdi express. It is quite appalling since these are times when even buses and auto services with camera surveillance all over.

The fallen promise of panic buttons inside coaches also gives the reason for the repeated attacks and fire incidents in trains. The button would have been a boon for the officials to reach the spot at lightning speed and nab the culprits.