Drone surveillance technology has emerged as an essential and cost-effective tool for security surveillance over large areas with a limited workforce.
Mumbai Central Railways has recently invented two Ninja UAVs for security and surveillance in Railway areas like station premises, track sections, yards and workshops, etc.
A four staff team of Railway Protection Force, Mumbai has been trained for drone flying, surveillance and their maintenance. These drones are capable of Real Tracking, Video Streaming and can be empowered on Automatic Safe Mode.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) has planned comprehensive utility of drones for Railway security. RPF has procured nine drones at the cost of Rs. 31.87 Lakhs.
It has been further proposed to procure seventeen more drones in future at 97.52 Lacs.
Nineteen RPF personnel have so far been assigned for the operation and maintenance of drones out of which four have received licenses for flying drones. Six more RPF personnel are being prepared.
The purpose of drone deployment is to enforce multiplier facilities and the effectiveness of the security personnel. It can help in inspecting Railways and their safety upon Yards, Workshops, car sheds etc. It can be used to keep eyes on criminal and several anti-social acts such as gambling, throwing garbage and hawking within Railway premises.
It is deployed for data collection and analysis of such data may prove to be extremely useful in restricted sections for safe operationalization of railways.
The drones could be pressed for service at disaster site which would help in rescue, recovery and restoration and coordinating of efforts of various agencies. It is instrumental while undertaking mapping of railway asset to assess the encroachments on railway property.
During a particular scale crowd management, it may give vital inputs like crowd magnitude and probable time of arrival and dispersal based on which crowd regulation efforts may be planned and executed. Drones were used to enforce lockdown and monitor the movement of migrants during the COVID-19 lockdown.
A drone camera covers a large area which requires 8-10 RPF personnel. Thus, it may lead to enquire improvement in the utilization of scarce workforce.
Drone acts as the “EYE IN SKY” and verifies the whole area. Any suspicious activity if noticed will be intimated to the nearest RPF post of division to apprehend the criminal LIVE.
