In a discussion in the Lower House today it was said that a decision was taken in 2014 to install CCTV cameras in more than hundred ladies coached in a few selected trains. The Ministry of Railways has made a long-term and a short-term plan for installments of CCTV cameras in the ladies’ compartment. In a written reply by Ministry of State Railways, Manoj Sinha said that the cameras will be installed soon. Targeting to achieve its aim on women security, Indian Railways has been electrifying more than fifteen-hundred kilometers as compared to the 2010-14 session when only 650 km per year had been electrified.
This is a moment of a dream turning into reality. In the EMU local trains in South India, the CCTV cameras for surveillance in the ladies’ compartment will be installed soon. According to a railway official, this step was important for ensuring the security and safety of women. The initiate by the South Eastern Railways has been followed by other including Western and Eastern Railways.
South Eastern Railways (SER) spokesperson, Sanjay Ghosh said that some of the Express and mail trains will also have surveillance cameras installed in them to ensure the safety and security and to detect any unwarranted activities inside the coaches. He added that they have been planning to add close-circuit TV cameras in the initiative of improving the safety measures in the coaches. The 12-coach rakes have been manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and delivered from Chennai in which there have been several high-end gadgets are installed to ensure safety including the CCTV cameras.
The South Eastern Railways has 30 EMU rakes who function as a service provider on Santragachi-Amta, Howrah-Kharagpur-Midnapur, Mecheda-Digha, Santragachi-Shalimar and Kharagpur-Hijli sections. He said that the Ladies Compartment will have CCTV cameras installed for surveillance purpose and for ensuring the safety and security of traveling women. He said that installation of the surveillance cameras was his top priority.
The SER spokesperson elaborated the functioning of the camera saying that they will be operated remotely to keep am an eye on the unforeseen and unwarranted incidents and to provide any damage. There will be monitors installed in the driver’s cabin and in the guard’s cabin for them to keep an eye on the situation the whole time. They will respond the first case to any emergency or unwarranted incident.
The convention EMUs used Carbon steel but the new coaches will use stainless steel and LED lights, the spokesperson said. He said that Passenger Information System has been installed in the coaches for extra safety. According to sources, it is expected that 7 cameras will be installed in each coach reserved for ladies. According to Mr. Gosh, four rakes are expected to come with first two in March and last two in June from the ICF.
