Passenger groups demand AI surveillance and tighter security at Thane stations
Following the recent murder of a passenger inside a moving local train, passenger associations are presenting an updated nine-point charter of demands to the Railway Board to secure the suburban railway network, including at major hubs like Thane. Led by the Mumbai Railway Pravasi Sangh (MRPS), the groups are demanding urgent systemic reforms, including AI-enabled surveillance to monitor crowds and detect violence in real-time.
The renewed push for safety follows the gruesome murder of 22-year-old Mayank Ramesh Lohar, a retail chain salesman, who was killed by fellow passenger Roshan Babu Suvarna inside a first-class compartment on the Western Railway line. The incident has caused widespread unease among the suburban network's approximately 8 million daily commuters.
A key proposal in the refreshed charter is the implementation of AI-enabled surveillance. According to passenger groups, this technology would automatically flag violent behaviour, suspicious movements, or abandoned objects, allowing security forces to intervene before situations escalate.
Madhu Kotian, president of the MRPS, stated that the fatal stabbing has exposed glaring vulnerabilities, staffing shortages, and porous infrastructure. He urged the railway administration to plug unwanted entry and exit points at stations, suggesting this work be incorporated into the ongoing Amrit Bharat station revamp. Kotian also demanded the installation of Metro-style baggage scanners at station entrances.
Siddhesh Desai, vice president of the MRPS, expressed outrage over the security response during the recent incident, noting that eyewitnesses saw the accused roaming the station premises after the murder with no security personnel around to apprehend him. Desai stated that although major hubs like Thane are equipped with baggage scanners, metal detectors, and CCTV cameras, these measures currently "only serve as window dressing."
The passenger associations also highlighted a severe shortage of security personnel. Kotian pointed out that the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) have been plagued by thousands of vacancies for at least six years, leaving the existing force heavily overworked.
Furthermore, Rajiv Singhal, a member of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee, criticized the conduct of on-duty staff, stating that security personnel appointed to guard stations are "often seen sitting at platforms immersed in their mobile phones." Singhal added that commuter groups regularly receive complaints about illegal vendors and beggars entering coaches, emphasizing the need for stricter monitoring.
