New Delhi / Lucknow— In a significant move to bolster passenger safety, Indian Railways has announced the installation of CCTV cameras in all passenger coaches and locomotives across the country. Following successful trials in the Northern Railway zone, the initiative will now be implemented nationwide, covering over 74,000 train coaches and 15,000 engines with state-of-the-art surveillance systems.
According to officials, each coach will be fitted with four dome-shaped CCTV cameras, strategically placed near the coach doors to monitor the movement of passengers. The locomotives will have a total of six cameras — one each at the front, rear, and both sides of the engine, along with one dome camera inside the driver’s cabin and two desk-mounted microphones. These cameras will be equipped with microphones to record ambient audio, enhancing monitoring capabilities.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu chaired a high-level review meeting on the project, along with senior officials from the Railway Board. It was decided that all surveillance equipment will meet the Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) norms and utilize the latest technology. The cameras are designed to provide high-quality recordings even at high speeds (100 km/h or more) and in low-light conditions.
In line with India’s AI Mission, the Railways Ministry is also exploring the use of artificial intelligence to analyze video data for real-time threat detection and response, ensuring further improvement in train security systems. At the same time, officials assured that the privacy of passengers will be fully protected. Cameras will be installed only in public areas such as coach doors and corridors to avoid any intrusion into passengers’ personal spaces.
This initiative aims to provide passengers with a safer, more comfortable, and modern travel experience. With over 13,000 trains running daily and nearly 2.4 crore passengers traveling across India each day, the introduction of CCTV surveillance is expected to serve as a strong deterrent against crimes such as theft, harassment, and vandalism.
Moreover, in emergency situations — including medical emergencies, fire outbreaks, or accidents — CCTV footage will play a crucial role in assessing ground realities and enabling swift, effective response from authorities.
By adopting this comprehensive surveillance strategy, Indian Railways not only strengthens the safety net for millions of daily travelers but also takes a significant step toward making rail travel in India more secure, reliable, and future-ready.
