How Are Railway Police Chiefs Enhancing Passenger Safety?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Enhancement of passenger safety through intelligence sharing.
- Implementation of coordinated operations across states.
- Focus on women’s safety and preventive measures.
- Utilization of technology like Facial Recognition Systems.
- Awareness campaigns to prevent theft and fraud.
New Delhi, June 22 (NationPress) The all-India gathering of Government Railway Police Chiefs from various states and Union Territories convened on Sunday to formulate strategies aimed at improving passenger safety through intelligence sharing, coordinated efforts, and the integration of FIRs via Rail Madad.
Participants engaged in discussions about utilizing technology and cohesive coordination to tackle interstate crime and to bolster security measures specifically for women passengers.
The Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Manoj Yadava, urged for a collaborative approach between the RPF and GRP across states to protect railway travelers, making train journeys safer and more secure.
Hosted at Vigyan Bhawan, the 6th All India Conference of Government Railway Police Chiefs was organized under RPF supervision. The esteemed conference, led by the RPF chief, brought together DGPs, ADGPs, and senior officials from GRP across various states and Union Territories, along with representatives from the Ministry of Railways. The focus was on concerted efforts to tackle the increasing challenges of crime control on Indian Railways and to strengthen collective initiatives aimed at ensuring the safety of millions of railway passengers who commute daily across its extensive network.
The central theme of the conference centered around enhancing intelligence sharing, drafting joint operational plans, and refining inter-agency coordination to combat the evolving tactics of criminal elements exploiting the vast railway system.
A major emphasis was placed on the intensification of passenger awareness campaigns to inform travelers about common scams and tricks used by thieves and fraudsters. The conference resolved to advocate for the seamless transformation of passenger property theft complaints submitted on the Rail Madad portal into formal FIRs, thereby enhancing detection rates and deterring repeat offenses.
To dismantle organized interstate criminal networks targeting high-value passenger belongings, extensive discussions were held on implementing proactive surveillance, coordinated operations across states, and leveraging technology-driven solutions such as Facial Recognition Systems. The necessity for a unified response framework among GRP units across different states and UTs was strongly highlighted to close jurisdictional gaps that offenders often exploit.
Significant attention was dedicated to the alarming trends of crimes against women passengers, with attendees agreeing on robust preventive measures, including targeted patrolling, the installation of CCTV cameras in stations and coaches, and deploying Meri Saheli teams to enhance security for women travelers.
The exploitation of railway premises by drug traffickers and smugglers was also scrutinized, with strategies discussed to combat such illegal activities through intensified checks and real-time intelligence inputs.
A crucial presentation by the Intelligence Bureau underscored potential terrorist threats to sensitive railway installations and the pressing need for vulnerability assessments and fortified security protocols. Furthermore, the issue of child safety on railway premises was addressed, focusing on mechanisms for the timely identification and rehabilitation of vulnerable children rescued from trafficking and exploitation risks.