Over 900 railway stations to have CCTV cameras

Indian Railways will install CCTV surveillance system at more than 900 stations under the Nirbhaya Fund at an approved cost of Rs 500 crore to strengthen security at rail premises.

Tenders for this will be floated shortly to install about 19,000 high definition CCTV cameras at over 983 stations across the country to ensure round-the-clock security to passengers including women.

The Centre had created ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ with a ₹1000 crore corpus in its 2013 Union Budget to support initiatives by the government and NGOs working towards protecting the dignity and ensuring safety of women in the country.

The project envisages installation of cameras at platforms and waiting areas while there will be control rooms at stations to monitor CCTV footages by trained RPF personnel constantly.

The station master will also be given access to monitor CCTV camera footage as part of the project being undertaken by the public transporter, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

Railways have about 8,000 stations out of which currently 344 stations have already been provided with CCTV cameras.

“It is helping us in a great way. The signboard reading ’You are under watch’ has a preventive effect on criminal minds,” the official said.