NEW DELHI: Concerned over the safety of women travellers in trains, Indian Railways is in the process of developing a Mobile App to help women travelling on trains.
Rail Minister Suresh Prabhu has directed CRIS, the IT arm of the Ministry of Railways, to develop an application to ensure that women passengers travelling alone on trains can immediately report any untoward incident to police using their mobile phones.
Prabhu wants the application to be part of an integrated system involving all stakeholders including police and the RPF. He is also thinking about installing CCTV cameras in compartments as a preventive measure so that movement of suspicious characters can be spotted and it would not be an intrusion of privacy of passengers. “Women safety is not only Railways’ but entire society’s concern. As Railway Minister it is my serious concern. We are planning to make an app operational for women passengers. If a woman passenger touched the App then the RPF or GRP will immediately get the information and prompt action can be taken. Station Masters will also get the alert message,” he said.
Railway Ministry during the Budget Session had announced that CCTV cameras would be installed in ladies’ compartment of trains in a phase-wise manner.
As of now, the Western Railways is implementing a similar scheme in women coaches in suburban trains in Mumbai. Railways have sanctioned 4,000 more posts of women Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel to provide enhanced security to women passengers. Besides, eight sanctioned Mahila Vahinis (women RPF companies) would be recruited.
He also launched a free Wi-Fi Internet service at New Delhi Railway Station, the busiest in the country. Bangalore was the first station to have Wi-Fi service. The Wi-Fi facility is to be provided at 75 big stations within 12 months.