Mumbai: Safety on trains in your hands, courtesy an app
What's the story
Come October, and the Central Railway (CR) will roll out a mobile application to cater to safety-related problems in the local or outstation trains. The app will be integrated with the RPF helpline, so that it becomes easy to track and solve the case, said officials. The app, which was being tested since 2016, will initially be available on Android and then on iOS.
Details
After complaint filed, RPF control room will track the phone
Once a complaint is filed, the 182 (RPF helpline) control room situated at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus will track the phone. It will then notify the nearest RPF or GRP station. The complaint will then be taken up by officials, said Sachin Bhalode, senior divisional security commissioner, CR, adding the app will help both, the commuters and officers in the control room.
Past events
App was first introduced in Pune in October 2016
The 'Rail Suraksha' app was first introduced in Pune in October 2016. It then offered other features as well, like details of missing persons, or people who have died on rail tracks, etc. Timetables and schedules of long distance trains running from Pune were also displayed. CR will launch this exact version, and it'll be made available across the country afterwards, said officials.
Development
Decision to launch app taken in January meeting
The decision to launch an app exclusively for safety issues was taken in a review meeting held in January. Chaired by Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, the meeting was held in New Delhi, where RPF officials were asked for ideas. Goyal then directed CR officials to assemble necessary devices in the 182 control room to prepare for the app roll-out.