Smart check: 2 drones, 250 hi-tech CCTVs among RPF steps to secure railway stations

New Delhi: Railway Protection Force (RPF) plans to upgrade security at the city's railway stations this year. It will procure advanced communication tools, surveillance systems and crowd management technology to monitor suspicious activity to prevent crime and ensure rapid response during emergencies.A senior officer said 277 walkie-talkies would be bought to enhance real-time communication among personnel stationed across the city's busy railway hubs. They will allow officers to coordinate quickly during emergencies, crowd surges or incidents of theft and vandalism. RPF will also get 31 very high-frequency sets for seamless long-distance communication.The force is investing in two advanced drones, specifically designed for crowd management. The drones will provide aerial monitoring of platforms, entry and exit points, and other high-risk areas during peak travel hours and special events. "They will be used at busy stations like New Delhi, Old Delhi and Anand Vihar to monitor crowd movement in real time," the officer said.Making video surveillance a cornerstone of the security upgrade, 50 solar-powered CCTV cameras are to be installed at locations prone to crime, vandalism or stone-pelting incidents. At New Delhi station, 60 CCTV cameras equipped with the face recognition system (FRS) technology will enable authorities to track persons of interest at crowded entry and exit points. "If a criminal enters the station, cameras will detect them and alert personnel," the officer noted. Nangloi station is already equipped with two FRS-enabled cameras, highlighting RPF's phased approach to rolling out advanced monitoring systems.An additional 200 CCTV cameras with video analytics capabilities will be installed at New Delhi station to allow real-time detection of unusual activity. Several other major stations are also being upgraded with RailTel FRS CCTV systems, with installation work already underway at six-seven stations. Seventeen more baggage scanners will be deployed to detect prohibited items and minimise the risk of illegal or dangerous materials entering the station premises.Senior divisional security commissioner (RPF) Ashutosh Pandey said these upgrades were expected to significantly reduce incidents of theft, vandalism and violence while improving response times during emergencies. "The combination of advanced communication tools, drone surveillance and intelligent CCTV systems represents a major leap towards creating a safer, more secure environment for millions of daily commuters using Delhi's railway network," he added.