Video surveillance at East Coast Railway stations

Visakhapatnam: To make woman passengers feel safer most of the stations right down to category ‘C’ stations in the Waltair division of East Coast Railway would be brought under video surveillance with installation of CCTV cameras.

The project is a part of the railway’s plan to set up 35,000 CCTV cameras in 1,000 railway stations across the country and is the biggest surveillance system installation by Indian Railways.

At least 35 CCTV cameras in each designated station would be installed and linked to the feeds to a server at the divisional headquarters. This feed will be preserved for 30 days. Now, woman passengers even at small stations could feel safer as right down to category ‘C’ stations or suburban stations have been included in this project.

“The preliminary ground work needed to execute the project such as paper work and site selection is underway. Higher authorities of the Railway Board are monitoring the project,” said ECoR chief public relations officer J.P. Mishra.

“The CCTV cameras will help to keep tab on anti-social elements and mischief-mongers and ensure more safety to not only women but all passengers,” he added. “It will keep strict vigil on anti-social elements of all kinds loitering around railway stations. Railway security will get a fillip with this. Women passengers will feel much safer,” said Mishra.

The stations where video surveillance system already exists, would not come under the project.