NEW DELHI: To ensure the safety of women passengers in trains, the Railway Ministry on Friday announced the installation of CCTV cameras in ladies’ compartments in a phased manner. The issue of women’s safety in trains was raised by Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan during the Question Hour.
Replying to her query, Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda said 4,000 more posts of women Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel were being sanctioned and eight sanctioned Mahila Vahinis (women RPF companies) would be recruited. “Special instructions are being issued for women’s safety in each class of travel,” the minister said, adding that, 17,000 RPF constables have been recruited and will be available shortly for deployment to strengthen security in trains and at stations.
There is a three-tier security system in the Railways with RPF, Government Railway Police (GRP) and district police. The RPF supplements the efforts of the GRP to ensure protection and security of railway property and passengers among others. The job of the district police is to ensure security of tracks, bridges and tunnels.
Gowda pointed out that on average 3,275 trains are escorted by RPF and GRP and all existing vacancies in RPF are being filled. “This will enable us to strengthen existing escorts and to escort another 1,500 vulnerable trains,” Gowda said. The installation of CCTV cameras is already being taken up in suburban trains in Mumbai. The Western Railway has floated a tender to procure the cameras.