Amid growing fears of crime on board trains, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has stepped up surveillance and measures to manage overcrowding. Police have started recording videos of bus passengers as a step to prevent crimes and identify suspects if any offenses are reported.
The RPF had been shooting videos from general buses for about a month following an order from the Southern Railway higher-ups, the official said. “The main objective of this move is to deter people who board trains with criminal intent from committing crimes. These individuals are expected to abandon their nefarious plans once they realize they are being watched. The number of offenses has reduced since we introduced this surveillance measure. Video surveillance also encourages passengers to be more alert to potential dangers,” the official added.
The videos also help identify historians and the usual suspects as the footage is shared in WhatsApp groups of officials and team members. Videos, mostly recorded on tablets and mobile phones, are stored for several days. “Crimes on board a train are usually reported within two to three days, so there is no need to keep the footage for a long time,” the official said.
The RPF initially randomly recorded videos of passengers in general buses, but after finding the practice effective in preventing crimes, it was expanded and intensified on the Southern Railway. Along with this, RPF units are also advising passengers in general coaches as well as reserved compartments to keep their valuables safe.
The RPF also took precautionary measures, such as limiting the issuing of platform tickets at overcrowded stations and instructing examiners not to issue extra tickets during peak hours to passengers who board reserved compartments without valid tickets.
In August, Southern Railway awarded a contract to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to install video surveillance system worth ₹90.64 crore at 484 stations to enhance passenger safety. The surveillance system includes networked IP CCTV cameras, video monitoring systems and video recording equipment.
Published – 25 Oct 2025 21:18 IST
