Indian Railways introduces Drone based surveillance system for Railway Security

The purpose of the drone deployment is to provide a force multiplier and aid to the effectiveness of the security personnel deployed

Mumbai Division of Central Railway has recently procured two Ninja UAVs for better security and surveillance in Railway areas

Nine (09) drones have been procured by RPF so far

18 AUG 2020

Drone surveillance technology has emerged as an important and cost effective tool for security surveillance over large areas with limited manpower. Mumbai Division of Central Railway in Indian Railways has recently procured two Ninja UAVs for better security and surveillance in Railway areas like station premises, Railway track sections, yards, workshops, etc.

A team of four staff of Railway Protection Force (RPF), Mumbai has been trained for drone flying, surveillance and maintenance. These drones are capable of Real Time Tracking, Video Streaming and may be operated on Automatic Fail Safe Mode.

Railway Protection Force (RPF) has planned extensive use of drones for the purpose of Railway security. Nine (09) drones have been procured by RPF so far at a cost of Rs. 31.87 Lakhs at South Eastern Railway, Central Railway, Modern Coaching Factory, Raebareli and South Western Railway.

It is further proposed to procure seventeen (17) more drones in future at a cost of Rs. 97.52 Lakhs. Nineteen (19) RPF personnel have so far been trained in operation and maintenance of drones out of which 4 have received licenses for flying drones. Six (06) more RPF personnel are being trained.

The purpose of the drone deployment is to provide a force multiplier and aid to the effectiveness of the security personnel deployed. It can help in inspection of Railway assets and safety of Yards, Workshops, car sheds etc. it can be used to launch surveillance on criminal and anti-social activities like gambling, throwing of garbage, hawking etc in Railway premises. It may be deployed for data collection Analysis of such data collected may prove to be extremely useful in vulnerable sections for safe operations of trains.

The drone may be pressed in service at disaster sites for helping in rescue, recovery and restoration and coordinating of efforts of various agencies. It is very useful while undertaking mapping of railway asset to assess the encroachments on railway property. During large scale crowd management efforts, it may give vital inputs like crowd magnitude, probable time of arrival and dispersal based on which crowd regulation efforts may be planned and executed. Drones were used to enforce lockdown and monitor the movement of migrants during the COVID-19 lockdown.

A drone camera can cover large area which requires 8-10 RPF personnel. Thus, it may lead to substantial improvement in utilization of scarce manpower. Drone beats have been designed based on railway asset, sensitivity of area, activity of criminals etc. Drone acts as an “EYE IN THE SKY” and monitors the whole area. Any suspicious activity if noticed is intimated to the nearest RPF post of division to apprehend the criminal LIVE. One such criminal was apprehended on a real time basis in Wadibunder Yard area while he was trying to commit theft inside railway coach stationed in the yard.

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Policing on Railways being a State subject, prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law and order in Railway premises as well as on running trains are the statutory responsibility of the State Governments, which they discharge through Government Railway Police (GRP). However, Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of the GRP by providing better protection and security of passenger area and passengers and for matters connected therewith. RPF escorts important trains in affected areas and also provide access control duties at important and sensitive stations.

Besides, the following measures are being taken by Railways for safety and security of passengers including women passengers in trains:

1. On vulnerable and identified routes/ sections, 2500 trains (on an average) are escorted by Railway Protection Force daily, in addition to 2200 trains escorted by Government Railway Police of different States daily.

2. The ladies special trains running in Metropolitan cities are being escorted by lady RPF constables.

3. The ladies compartments in suburban trains running in metropolitan cities are being escorted by RPF and GRP. Staff deployment is made during late night and early morning in such trains to ensure proper security to the lady passengers.

4. Security Help Line number 182 is made operational over Indian Railways for security related assistance to passengers in distress.

5. Regular drives are conducted to prevent entry of male passengers in compartments reserved for ladies, and if found, they are prosecuted under the provisions of Railways Act.

6. Surveillance is kept through CCTV cameras, provided at about 344 stations over Indian Railways, to ensure safety and security of passengers.

7. RPF holds regular coordination meetings with State Police at all levels to ensure proper registration and investigation of crime by GRP

8. Strengthening and upgradation of security infrastructure is an ongoing process.

A total of 344 railway stations have been provided with Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras over Indian Railways. With a view to further strengthening security of passengers including women, 983 A1, A, B & C category railway stations have been nominated for installation of CCTV cameras with allocation of budget under Nirbhaya Fund. CCTV cameras have also been installed on a limited number of coaches of passenger and suburban trains on a pilot basis. Sanction for provision of CCTV cameras in 500 coaches has been obtained under the Rolling Stock Programme 2015-16. Work has already been completed in about 25 passenger coaches and 32 suburban coaches (including ladies compartments) that have been commissioned in service.

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 16.12.2016 (Friday).

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Security related posts lying vacant in Railways

The below information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri Bharatsinh Solanki in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 17.8.2012.

“There are 15550 vacancies in Railway Protection Force (RPF) as on 01.04.2012. For the purpose of filling of vacancy the following recruitments are under process:-

Nearly 27.07 lakh applications have been received for 11952 vacancies of Constables notified vide Employment Notice No. 1/2011.

Pre-Examination work is under process. Written examination will be conducted after completion of Pre-Examination work.

For filling up of 511 vacancies of Sub-Inspector, a notification was issued vide Employment Notice No. 2/2011. Written examination has already been conducted on 12.08.2012”.

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