Mumbai’s Lifeline Gets a Watchful Upgrade: Trains Add CCTVs and Voice Logs

If you ride Mumbai’s local trains, you’ll soon notice some new tech on board. Central and Western Railways have started installing CCTV cameras and voice recorders in the motorcabs of suburban trains. The goal is simple: make daily travel safer and help investigators get to the bottom of any incidents more quickly.

 

Here’s what’s changing:

 

Each train’s motorcab—where the motorman and train manager work—now has six CCTV cameras and audio recorders. Two cameras look straight down the tracks, two watch the crew inside, and two more capture what’s happening on either side of the train.

 

The audio recorders pick up conversations between crew members. This means if something goes wrong, investigators can review both video and audio to figure out exactly what happened.

 

The system uses artificial intelligence to keep an eye on the motorman. If the motorman looks drowsy, distracted, or is caught using a phone, the system can send out alerts and even let control room staff step in if needed.

 

This upgrade comes after a recent accident in Mumbra, where the lack of cameras made it tough to understand the cause. With this new setup, officials hope to get clearer answers in the future.

 

Some railway staff are worried about privacy and whether recordings could be used for minor issues, but officials say the main focus is on safety and preventing serious accidents.

 

The project is already underway, with dozens of trains fitted so far and more on the way.

 

For the millions who rely on Mumbai’s local trains every day, these changes are meant to make commutes a little safer and give everyone more peace of mind.

 

Source: Hindustan Times