News: newindianexpress | Image source: Youtube
Indian railway is taking an initiative of installing CCTV cameras to assure security. It will be done in 20000 coaches at a cost of Rs 700 crore from the Nirbhaya Fund.
This was one of the plans coming out to recent PMO meeting with Railway. Moreover construction of new lines, rail over-bridge and under-bridge, improve passenger convenience will be other priorities. The CCTV installation plan is very aggressive move considering the number of trains in India, however it is a big and good start.
Nirbhaya Fund was created in 2013, for the child and women safety allotting 2000 crore to Women and Child Development Ministry. It was made after the brutal garage rape incident in the Delhi in December 2012. 1000 crore were again added in 2014 however the fund is intact and no spending has been done for any project so far. Railway is coordinating with WCD Ministry for releasing the funds.
The CCTV camera integration in coaches has been successfully done by a 3-tier coach manufacturer in Chennai.
So far escort services are in action for security and only 1300 trains are escorted by RPF from 11000 trains running daily.
Railway has already equipped the major stations with CCTV for keeping track of security and surveillance. Now it has been decided that CCTV cameras installed at stations will also be utilised for keeping a tab on sanitation performance.
