The Confederation of All India Rail Users Association (CAIRUA) has called upon the State government and the police to consider an intensified surveillance over railway tracks in the wake of the increasing sabotage attempts and recurring incidents of suicides.
The confederation functionaries pointed out that the recent series of incidents had created a huge safety scare among railway employees and passengers which should be addressed through all possible safety fortification measures.
According to them, it was a close shave for passengers in two major incidents in Kozhikode and Thrissur districts, where hazardous objects were found on railway tracks. The impact would have been unpredictable if the trains were in good speed, they said.
A communication issued by the confederation said there should be intensified day and night patrol on railway tracks with the support of a security team.
Following the intervention of various rail users’ associations affiliated to the CAIRUA, there were efforts on the part of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the railway authorities earlier to strengthen local surveillance committees with the support of various residents’ associations to keep an eye on suspicious activities along railway tracks. However, the initiative, according to local residents’ forums, lost steam midway thanks to lack of proper follow-up initiatives.
“The best option is to improve CCTV surveillance systems in vulnerable areas where manual surveillance is impossible for various reasons. The Railways can easily do this by setting apart a portion of their funds in the annual Budget,” said a former RPF officer in Kozhikode.
Published – March 14, 2025 12:21 am IST
