Railway protection force, mech department will jointly run CCTV in coaches
Where the work of installing CCTV cameras in coaches is going on in the first phase itself. At the same time, two cases of theft have already been resolved by using the RPF feed.
Nagpur: In an effort to enhance the safety of passengers, CCTV cameras are being installed in railway coaches, Which will be operated and monitored by Railway Protection Force (RPF), Central Railway as well as Mechanical Department.
Where the work of installing CCTV cameras in coaches is going on in the first phase itself. At the same time, two cases of theft have already been resolved by using the RPF feed.
A Joint Procedure Order was also signed by RPF and the Mechanical Department of Central Railway, Nagpur Division a few days back to ensure complete maintenance, operation, and use of CCTVs.
The RPF has also entered into an agreement as ‘user’ while the mechanical department of CCTV is as ‘maintenance’.
So far CCTVs have been installed in 11 coaches of two trains – Nagpur-Amritsar Express and Ajni-Pune Express in Nagpur Division.
Nagpur Division Railway authorities are targeting to increase the CCTV network
Sources also say that efforts are on to ensure CCTV in coaches of important trains like Vidarbha Express and Sevagram Express.
Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF, Nagpur Division, Ashutosh Pandey also said, “We have already solved two theft cases by using CCTV feeds.” The CCTV cameras will also ensure that every passenger entering or exiting the coach is captured which in turn will increase the security quotient as well.
Ashutosh Pandey has even said that the Railway Board has approved the use of tear guns and tear shells to disperse the disruptive crowd in the backdrop of the damage caused to the railways during the Agniveer agitation. “Based on rotation, about five personnel from each division will be trained in a special academy in Nashik for using tear-drops and tear-guns,” he said adding that RPF earlier also had the ability to deal with the crowd, but now it will also have the ability to disperse the crowd.
Ashutosh Pandey has also said that the RPF’s fight against narco smugglers has strengthened with the addition of the sniffer dog. “The RPF was able to intercept around 1.1 quintals of ganja from trains soon after the sniffer dog was pressed into action,” Ashutosh Pandey said. Along with this, two new baggage scanners have been installed at Nagpur railway station instead of the old one, They said.
Nagpur Division Railway authorities are targeting to increase the CCTV network at major stations like Wardha, Chandrapur, Ballarshah, and Beitul in Vidarbha in Madhya Pradesh.
To increase surveillance, the number of CCTV cameras will be increased from 40 to 60 at many stations. The survey is also underway for new establishments in Sewagram and Dhamangaon, RPF Nagpur division chief Ashutosh Pandey said.
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