Railways to set up facial recognition cameras at Secunderabad station to track criminals

Hyderabad: Secunderabad railway station, one of India's largest, is set to enhance its security infrastructure through the implementation of a facial recognition system. The initiative is part of Indian Railways’ efforts across seven major stations nationwide.

As part of this, South Central Railway (SCR) authorities will maintain a detailed database using the existing CCTVs of criminals previously involved in theft cases, narcotics, drugs, and trafficking at railway stations and trains, including those who served prison sentences.

The surveillance system will automatically notify the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) when a known offender enters the station premises, with these cameras continuously monitoring their movements. An alarm will sound in the control room as soon as an offender sets foot in the railway premises.

“Under the Nirbhaya funds, these surveillance cameras costing Rs 4.5 crore shall be positioned at every entry and exit point of Secunderabad station. The Research Designs & Standards Organisation has initiated trial operations and system evaluations. The station requires the installation of around 10 such cameras. Previously, while the city police installed similar cameras, they were removed during station redevelopment activities," said a senior official in SCR.

According to officials, this advanced surveillance initiative aims to enhance security across railway stations. The system will analyse facial features and match them with the database of previous offenders. When a match occurs, the control room staff will receive instant notifications and can track the person’s movements in real-time through networked cameras.

The database will include comprehensive details such as physical descriptions, past criminal records, and patterns of offences. This digital tracking system will particularly focus on pickpockets, luggage thieves, and chain snatchers who frequently target railway passengers. Over the past 18 months, railway stations and trains in SCR jurisdiction documented around 600 theft cases.

The facial recognition system will also be deployed at Mumbai, New Delhi, Howrah, Sealdah, Patna, and Chennai railway stations.

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