Kerala Railway Stations Grapple with CCTV Security Gaps, Endangering Passengers
Thiruvananthapuram: The persistent absence of CCTV cameras at numerous railway stations across Kerala continues to pose significant security risks for passengers, despite assurances from railway officials. While authorities claim that CCTV installations are underway and adequate Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel are deployed, recent incidents underscore ongoing vulnerabilities.
Recent Incident Highlights Security Lapses
In a troubling event at Aluva railway station, unidentified individuals reportedly pulled a passenger from a train and robbed him, with no CCTV cameras present on the platform to capture the incident. This case has reignited concerns among frequent travelers, who complain that the railways have been sluggish in implementing surveillance systems at stations.
Cameras are deemed crucial as many passengers, including daily commuters to work, rely on passenger and express trains, often disembarking at smaller stations late at night while returning home. However, the railways have prioritized major hubs such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode for CCTV installations, leaving smaller stations exposed.
Non-Functional Cameras and Slow Implementation
Compounding the issue, some cameras installed at these major stations are not operational due to ongoing redevelopment work. J Liyons, representing Friends on Rails, emphasized that the railways have yet to fully address this security need. "This has been our long-standing demand. But they are implementing it very slowly. The installed ones are not working too. The cameras are not recording continuously at stations where the redevelopment work is going on," he stated. Liyons urged the railways to prioritize CCTV installations as a critical element of passenger security.
Passengers have criticized the uneven approach to this work, alleging that the railways focus first on major stations before smaller ones, following different schemes that cause delays. The phased installation strategy has led to significant lags in enhancing safety measures.
Historical Context and Current Initiatives
In 2018, around 24 railway stations were selected for CCTV installation under the Nirbhaya Fund, aimed at improving women's safety. Currently, the railways are deploying cameras under the emergency response management system in the Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad divisions, but progress remains slow.
Additionally, plans to install CCTV cameras on train coaches have stalled. While new coaches come equipped with this facility, very few trains utilize them, and retrofitting older coaches has not yet commenced, further limiting security coverage.
The combination of inadequate surveillance, non-functional equipment, and delayed implementations continues to leave passengers vulnerable, calling for urgent action to bolster railway security across Kerala.
