Indian Railways goes high on safety; to install CCTVs in all 74000 coaches, 15000 locomotives

New Delhi: Every railway coach and locomotive in India will soon be under CCTV surveillance. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has cleared a mega plan to enhance passenger safety and curb crime on trains.

Nationwide rollout after successful trials

The decision comes after successful trials of CCTV cameras in locomotives and coaches of the Northern Railway. Vaishnaw, along with Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu and Railway Board officials, reviewed the trial results at a meeting held on Saturday.

Four cameras per coach, six per locomotive

According to officials, each of the 74,000 coaches will be equipped with four dome-type CCTV cameras – two near each entrance – to ensure full coverage of common movement areas.

Each of the 15,000 locomotives will have six CCTV cameras, including one each at the front, rear, and both sides, while each cab will have a dome camera and two desk-mounted microphones.

Deterrent against miscreants

Railway officials said the installation will act as a strong deterrent against miscreants and organised gangs who target passengers on long journeys. The footage will also help in the quick identification of culprits in case of theft or other incidents.

High-quality footage, AI integration planned

Vaishnaw directed officials to ensure that cameras provide clear footage even at speeds above 100 kmph and under low lighting conditions. He also encouraged integrating artificial intelligence with CCTV data under the IndiaAI mission to strengthen security monitoring.

Privacy to be protected

While the cameras will cover only the common areas and entrances, officials assured that passenger privacy will be protected. The Railways stated that this move is part of its broader modernisation efforts to provide a safe, secure, and comfortable travel experience for passengers.