Railways to install 12 lakh CCTV cameras in 11,000 trains
The government is expected to set aside Rs. 3,000 crore in Budget 2018 for the Indian Railways for purchasing 12 lakh CCTV cameras to improve passenger security and provide a more secure travel experience. The cameras will be installed in all 11,000 trains across both premium and suburban services, as well as in 8,500 stations across India. Here's all about it.
Each coach will feature eight cameras
The Rs. 3,000 crore, however, is not expected to cover the entire cost of buying the cameras, and the Indian Railways is expected to enter the market to raise the necessary capital. Eight CCTV cameras will be installed in each coach and they will cover the entry gates, aisles, and vestibules. Significant blind spots in train stations will also be put under surveillance.
Current state of surveillance in Indian Railways services
At present, approximately 395 trains and 50 railway stations are equipped with CCTV cameras and surveillance capacity.
Increasing levels of surveillance in rail services across India
The footage recorded by these cameras will be monitored round the clock by trained personnel of the Railway Protection Force. According to the Press Trust of India, station masters are also expected to be given access to the security footage. A day ago, The Better India reported that there were plans to install facial-recognition cameras in Mumbai locals to track offenders entering women's compartments.
The thin line between security and violation of privacy
According to a Railway Ministry official, "All mail/express and premier trains" would be equipped with modern surveillance systems in the next two years. The government's push for state-of-the-art surveillance systems has the potential to improve security if used correctly. However, there always remains a scope for misuse and given the scale of the surveillance system, misuse can have significant implications on passengers' privacy.
