Despite the ongoing crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of train passengers in Mumbai has increased tremendously. As a result, the number of crimes has also increased.
Therefore, to avoid such incidents, the railway administration had decided to install CCTV in local trains. The decision was taken by Western Railway to install a 'talk back' system along with CCTV in women's coaches in Mumbai local. However, even after three years, the project is moving at a very slow pace as out of 100 local trains of Western Railway, CCTV has been installed only in 47 trains in ladies’ coaches. Moreover, only nine coaches have been equipped with talk back system so far.
CCTV will help in unravelling the crime in the local, while a ‘talk back’ system is being set up so that the female passenger can communicate with the guard or motorman through the speaker in the box and ask for immediate help. Both the projects were expected to cost INR 123 crore. But, it was later clarified by the Western Railway that the talk back system would not be extended due to the possibility of its misuse, the cost involved, the guards to handle the system, the stress on the railway security forces along the motormen, etc.
As air-conditioned local trains will be introduced in the next few years, it was clear that this system will be in these trains only. But the air-conditioned local project did not go well as planned. So we decided to move the CCTV cameras and the talk back system forward said an official.
Besides, Sakhi, a WhatsApp group, was formed to help female passengers. It has members of Women Passengers Association, Women Railway Security Force personnel, Women Railway Police, Women Railway Officers. There are nine 'Sakhi WhatsApp Group' with more than 750 female members. Also implemented 'Meri Saheli' scheme in Mail-Express trains.
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