Passenger safety on Mumbai's suburban railway network has come under renewed scrutiny following a series of violent incidents over the past two days.
According to official data, nearly 90% of general coaches operated by Western Railway and Central Railway are not equipped with CCTV cameras, while over 93% lack an emergency talk-back system, raising concerns about passenger security and emergency response.
The issue has gained urgency after four separate incidents left several passengers injured. These included a pepper spray attack inside a women's compartment and multiple cases of assault.
Mumbai's suburban railway network carries nearly 70 lakh passengers every day, making an effective surveillance and rapid response system essential. However, data reveals significant gaps in safety infrastructure.
There are 2,193 general coaches across the suburban network, but only 225 are fitted with CCTV cameras, leaving 1,968 coaches without surveillance. Western Railway has installed CCTV cameras in 131 of its 1,013 general coaches, while Central Railway has cameras in only 94 of its 1,180 general coaches.
The availability of emergency talk-back systems is even lower. Only 246 general coaches are equipped with the facility, leaving 2,049 coaches without a direct communication link to the train guard during emergencies.
The situation is comparatively better in women's coaches. Central Railway has installed both CCTV cameras and emergency talk-back systems in all 794 women's coaches. On Western Railway, 161 of the 468 women's coaches are equipped with CCTV cameras, while 423 have talk-back systems.
The emergency talk-back system enables passengers to contact the train guard by pressing an emergency button. This activates an alarm and indicator in the guard's cabin, allowing the guard to communicate with the passenger, assess the situation, and coordinate with the control room, Government Railway Police (GRP), and Railway Protection Force (RPF) to ensure assistance is provided at the next station.
Railway officials said several security measures have been introduced over the past 12 years, including the installation of facial recognition cameras at railway stations.
"Passenger safety is our top priority. Several measures have been implemented in the last 12 years. Facial recognition cameras have been installed at stations, with the help of which many cases have been solved. Our staff is constantly working to ensure the safety of passengers. We will continue to adopt new technologies to further strengthen security," said Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Western Railway.