Central Railway’s Mumbai Division has recently procured two Ninja UAVs for better security and surveillance in railway areas. A team of four staff from Modernization Cell of RPF have been trained and obtained a licence for flying these drones.
The drones have an operational range of 2 km and fly upto 25 minutes. They weigh around 2 kg and can capture HD images at 1280×720 pixels during daylight. The drones also have real-time tracking, video streaming and automatic failsafe mode.
Thanks to use of drone based surveillance, two criminals were apprehended on in Wadibunder Yard area and Kalamboli yard while attempting theft in rolling stock stationed in the yard.
Central Railway expects the drones to be helpful with:
• Inspection of railway assets and ensuring safety of yards, workshops, car sheds etc.
• Surveillance on criminal and anti-social activities in railway premises. It may include gambling, throwing of garbage, hawking etc.
• Analysis of vulnerable sections for safe operations of trains
• Surveillance on disaster sites and coordinating with other agencies.
• Mapping of railway asset to assess the encroachments on railway property
• Crowd monitoring during critical situations, during festive seasons etc
Drone beats are designed across the division based on railway assets, the sensitivity of the area, the activity of criminals etc.