The Central Railway is all set to increase security at various locations by installing CCTV cameras. According to a release issued by the Central Railways, a total of 6,122 Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) cameras including 3,652 cameras with a face recognition system will be installed at as many as 364 railway stations soon. The statement informed that the Railway Board has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with RailTel in this regard.
This system will be installed at all stations on the Mumbai Suburban Network. “Central Railway stations, including all stations on the Mumbai Suburban Network, will soon be equipped with face recognition cameras, a technology that will help apprehend wanted criminals and manage crowded areas,” the release stated.
The statement also noted that these cameras represent a significant step towards “comprehensive surveillance”. However, it may be noted that some stations, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Dadar, Kurla, Thane, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, and Kalyan, are not going to be covered under this system as these stations already have Integrated Security Systems (ISS).
“Cameras with face recognition systems, video analytics, video management systems will enhance passenger safety, control crime, deter law abusers and monitor compliance with railway rules,” the release said.
These face recognition cameras will instantly alert the administration about the presence of known criminals when they enter a station as it can recognize a person whose face is stored in the database. These cameras can identify various parts of a face, such as the retina or forehead.
“Each HD camera consumes approximately 750 GB data, while 4K cameras consume 3TB of data per month. The video footage will be stored for 30 days for post-event analysis, playback and investigation purposes, although important videos can be stored for a longer duration,” the release said.
