Everyday lakhs of people travel in Mumbai local trains and reach their respective destinations. Local train is considered lifeline in Mumbai. Lakhs of women of Mumbai travel in local trains. Traveling in Mumbai’s local train is considered safe at any time. In such a situation, to increase the security further, the facility of CCTV cameras and talk back system is going to start soon in Mumbai suburban trains of Central Railway.
The facility of CCTV cameras in 771 ladies coaches and talk back system in 480 ladies coaches in Mumbai suburban trains will start soon. 199 CCTV cameras have already been installed in ladies coaches, talk back system will be installed in all these ladies coaches. In the financial year 2023-2024, Central Railway has planned to install CCTV in 589 coaches of Mumbai suburban trains.
At present, closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) have been installed in 199 coaches of Mumbai suburban trains. Presently work is going on for 39 women coaches. These cameras with advanced security features for women passengers with infrared (IR) vision will prevent crime against women, help in investigation of criminal cases and the recently installed coaches also have the facility of live streaming of CCTV footage.
The facility of talk back system will enable women passengers to talk to the local train guard during emergencies. The system consists of a button, which needs to be pressed to speak to the guard (the one who manages the cabins at the non-driving end of the train) through an inbuilt microphone. Another talk back system has been installed in the guard’s cabin, which responds to the guard and subsequently alerts the motorman if passengers are in distress.
Each local train has six ladies coaches including first class coaches. Railways plans to install the system in all women coaches in its suburban fleet in the next two years.