CCTVs to monitor tracks, motormen on local trains

Surveillance system to detect distraction, trigger alerts and prevent mishaps, say railway officials

- Shashank Rao

MUMBAI: Trains that ply on the suburban network in Mumbai are being fitted with a crew voice and video recording system (CVVRS) that will capture live visuals and audio of tracks and crew members during journeys.

The Central Railways (CR) and Western Railways (WR) have installed the system on 25 and 26 local train rakes, respectively, and further procurement is underway, said officials.

"The primary goal behind installing the CVVRS is to improve operational safety and efficiency by monitoring the track conditions in front of and around the train," a senior railway official told Hindustan Times, requesting anonymity.

Videos and recordings of conversations among crew members could provide valuable clues to investigators in case of mishaps such as the one in Mumbra on June 9 wherein five commuters died after falling off a local train, he said.