The railways has been trying to push the installation of CCTVs on its trains for security purposes by trying to entice firms with the lure of the advertisement potential resulting from the lakhs of people who use suburban railway stations every day. The move has its share of detractors as well, many of whom believe that the security of passengers is such an important issue that the railways should be using its own resources to set up these CCTVs rather than wait for private firms to line up for the same.
“Moreover, the problem, in a city like Mumbai, is that commuting is such a tough affair due to the crowds and old and passenger-unfriendly railway stations that expecting commuters to notice advertisements at a station might be a long shot. Can you imagine anyone during peak hours trying to watch an advertisement put up on the Parel-Elphinstone foot overbridge? There is so much chaos and jostling that the best of ads might not attract a single eyeball,” said an executive from an out-of-home media agency.
A section of railway officials believe that since law and order, crime and the like are state subjects, it is best that the state government, too, chips in with money to install the CCTVs in trains. “Between Western Railway and CR, we have more than 200 rakes and installing CCTVs would cost a few crores of rupees. But since it is a matter of the security and safety of passengers, the gains of safe travel will be far above the money spent on CCTVs,” said an official
