Rail Associations Demand AI Surveillance And Security Upgrades After Suburban Murder
Following the recent fatal stabbing of a passenger on a local train, the Mumbai Railway Pravasi Sangh (MRPS) and other passenger associations are submitting a refreshed nine-point charter of demands to the Railway Board to fortify security across the suburban network, including at major hubs like Thane. The demands were revived after 22-year-old salesman Mayank Ramesh Lohar was murdered by fellow passenger Roshan Babu Suvarna inside a first-class compartment on the Western Railway line.
Siddhesh Desai, vice president of MRPS, expressed outrage over the incident, pointing out that eyewitnesses saw the accused roaming the station premises after the murder with no security personnel around to apprehend him. Desai noted that even though major hubs like Thane have baggage scanners, metal detectors, and CCTV cameras, the existing infrastructure currently serves as "window dressing."
The passenger groups first tabled a charter of demands nearly seven years ago. With approximately 8 million daily commuters on the suburban network, the associations have now updated their proposal. A key demand is the installation of AI-enabled surveillance to monitor crowds in real-time, which would automatically flag violent behavior, suspicious movements, or abandoned objects.
MRPS President Madhu Kotian criticized the railway administration for prioritizing revenue collection and ticket-checking over passenger safety. Kotian demanded that unauthorized entry and exit points at stations be plugged, suggesting this be done alongside the ongoing Amrit Bharat revamp works.
The association is also calling for Metro-style security grids, including baggage scanners at all entrances. While Kotian acknowledged this could cause friction in a heavily crowded system, he stated that violent elements have forced the need for stricter policies.
Additionally, the associations highlighted a severe staffing shortage in the railway security forces, including the GRP and RPF, where thousands of vacancies have remained unfilled for at least six years. Rajiv Singhal, a member of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee, also noted that appointed security personnel are often seen distracted by their mobile phones on platforms rather than monitoring the stations.
