RPF to monitor WR personnel through internal app

Around 950 personnel on the suburban section will be subject to ‘e-patrolling’

The location and movements of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) on the western railway will now will tracked by senior officers to understand how they can best utilise their minuscule force.

The application will be assisted by footage from 1,100 CCTV cameras.(HT File Photo)

Around 950 personnel on the suburban section will be subject to ‘e-patrolling’. They will have to log into a security application, which has a Quick Response (QR) bar code and update their patrol locations constantly.

The internal mobile application has been developed by a Surat-based company and will have to be logged into by each of the personnel. Those who choose otherwise; will be marked absent and will attract action, officials said. The announcement came on the heels of the 32nd raising day of RPF.

“It will bring about more transparency as those on patrol duty will have to scan the QR code several times en route and upload their picture. We will also check the gap between QR scans as we know how much time is required to move from point A to B,” said Anand Vijay Jha, senior divisional security commissioner, RPF.

The officials said the application will be assisted by footage from 1,100 CCTV cameras. The RPF has asked for more to be added.

“A survey by the RPF is underway and we have felt the need to increase the number of CCTV cameras to 1,665 and the number is likely to rise higher till the survey ends,” added Jha.

The RPF has undertaken measures such as merging outposts that man the railway sheds and conducting workshops so that the workforce can be trained in passenger security.

The Parel workshop and EMU shed, in which 150 policemen are deployed, have been merged and the strength has been cut to 50. The 100 personnel have been deployed at the newly-started Nalasopara and Malad outposts.

A new Mumbai Central local outpost has also been started (merging coach care depot, Mumbai Central and carshed depot), which Hindustan Times reported on August 28.

GRAPHICS: Women’s Security.

-Security application will also help in improving security of women commuters as the presence of RPF personnel will be supervised via it

-RPF has been holding awareness campaigns with Amnesty International starting July and learnt that only around 1 percent of the women commuters report harassment to police

- In the campaign RPF launched a ‘jingle’ that will be played in local trains, platforms and also distributed over 500 booklets stating the steps to be taken in case of harassment

-Commuters can also send complaint photographs and videos pertaining to the RPF personnel’s absence via whatsapp number ‘9004499718’

-In case found true, personnel will face salary cut and departmental enquiry

Helpline numbers:

In case of distress, you can call the following helpline numbers:

Government Railway Police: 9833331111

Railway Protection Force national helpline: 182/138

Mumbai Police Control Room: 100

To contact the GRP commissioner, Mumbai:

Call: 022 – 23759251

Email: cp.mumbai.railways@mahapolice.gov.in

To upload your complaints visit:

www.facebook.com/mumbairailwaypolice

Women can send their complaints on WhatsApp number: 9833312222

For Accident Victims visit: www.shodh.gov.in