Technology provides thrust to surveillance at junction

Dome cameras installed at five locations at Tiruchi Railway Junction are delivering desired results for RPF, writes R.Krishnamoorthy

As technology-oriented integrated security system is being put in place, surveillance is assuming a new dimension at the Tiruchi Railway Junction as dome cameras installed at five locations at Tiruchi Railway Junction are delivering the desired results for the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Movement of people on platforms and circulating area is being monitored effectively from a master control room. Two cameras each have been installed at the first and second platforms and one at the control room.

The concept of round-the-clock monitoring of activities at the railway junction will assume a strong significance when 66 remaining cameras are fixed at locations spread over the length and breadth of the five platforms at Tiruchi Railway Junction, the booking office and the parcel office, according to Divisional Security Commissioner Kumaran.

The RPF in Tiruchi will also be equipped with two luggage scanners, two under-vehicle scanners, a parcel scanner, bomb suit and a bomb suppression blanket under the integrated security system conceived soon after the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008. These gadgets will be supplemented by the presence of dog squad.

In all, 71 cameras –18 dome, 30 box and 23 PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) varieties – and the other equipment will serve as effective deterrents, though there is no threat perception in Tiruchi Divisional Headquarters. Most of the divisional railway headquarters have also been covered under the scheme.

In Tiruchi, the real-time monitoring through the cameras that have in-built back-up storage of recordings of one month will be carried out with the aid of seven computer systems in the master control room. At any given point of time, six to seven RPF personnel moving about the railway junction will respond immediately in case of need. Communication about location and movement of suspicious looking persons will be delivered through walkie-talkies. The advanced security system being implemented at an expenditure of Rs.4 crore was nearing completion, officials said.