Software to detect suspicious activities

Recently,Central Railway (CR) opened the tender for the Rs 27-crore Integrated Security Scheme,while pre-bid preparations are in process for the Rs 18-crore Western Railway (WR) tender.

Chief security commissioner of Railway Protection Force (RPF),CR,Anil Sharma said,“In around four months,the tender will be awarded. We are analysing how successful will the new software be in our security system. Apart from this,CR will train the staff in the science of behaviour so they can identify suspicious activities easily.”

At most of the stations and railway premises which don’t have RPF offices,the CCTVs are being monitored by station masters or booking clerks owing to shortage of RPF staff. CR has 5,360 personnel — short by 1,085 — while WR has 5,000 personnel and requires 1,000 more staffers.

“RPF men are the busiest,how it is possible for them to monitor the CCTVs? Also,where they are deployed they can’t be attentive at all times as it is a monotonous job. When something happens,video contents are analysed. So,we have decided to include command and control software in CCTV cameras,which identify unusual things. So,if someone leaves a bag,the software will immediately alert the control room and if no action is taken it will be recorded in the video. Similar alert will be sent out if someone climbs the roof of the train,” said a senior CR official.

When the 26/11 attack took place at CST,16 CCTVs were found to be non-functional. Now,joint report of signalling and telecommunication department as well as the RPF is prepared daily for the suburban section of CR and WR on the status of CCTVs.

“What is point if the video contents are checked after the incident? Many times the RPF staff turn the cameras in other direction so some activities are not recorded,” said a station master on condition of anonymity.

Newsline found that at major station where the RPF is supposed to monitor the camera,the display room was locked.

Recently,a woman’s bag was looted on a running train near the Andheri station and the culprit fled as the train slowed down. When she lodged a complaint with the GRP in Andheri and they tried to check the video contents of CCTV,the display room was found locked. When it was finally opened,it was found that the area where the incident took place wasn’t in the CCTV’s range.

On April 28,the body of a woman was found at Churchgate. A major hurdle in probe was that the CCTVs at Virar station,where the body is suspected to have been loaded on the train,did not capture any useful footage of the incident.

“WR is also including the new software. Under the Integrated Security Scheme,the Railways were to get CCTV cameras,perimeter wall fencing,vehicle scanners,baggage screening systems and explosive detection and disposal systems,’’said Mahim Swami,chief security commissioner,RPF,WR.