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Indian Railways has taken a historic and high-tech step to curb daily ticketless travel in local trains, considered the lifeline of Mumbai, and complaints of disputes and bribery during ticket checking. Traveling Ticket Examiners (TTE) deployed on the Mumbai suburban network are now equipped with state-of-the-art Body-Worn Cameras Has been equipped with. Both Western Railway (WR) and Central Railway (CR) divisions have jointly implemented this digital monitoring system. Now whenever a ticket checker asks for a ticket from a passenger, the entire interaction, behaviour, ticket verification and the process of clipping the fine will be captured directly on camera with high-quality audio and video. The implementation of this new system will not only bring transparency in ticket checking, but will also completely block cases of false allegations, misbehavior and bribery.
These body cameras, installed near the collar or chest on the uniform of the ticket checking staff, are very light in weight, compact and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. These cameras are equipped with high-definition (HD) video recording as well as wide-angle lens, due to which the entire surrounding scene is clearly recorded even in crowded local train coaches. The cameras have night vision and the ability to take clear pictures even in low light, due to which there will be no blurring during checking even in late night local trains. The battery life of these cameras is 8 to 10 hours, which is capable of working without interruption during the entire shift of the TTE. The most important thing is that these cameras have been provided with anti-tamper-proof software technology, which means that while on duty, the TTE can neither delete nor edit any footage as per his wish.
70 to 80 lakh passengers travel in Mumbai local every day. Taking advantage of such huge crowd, many passengers travel without valid tickets or without proper passes. There were also frequent complaints that some ticket checkers, instead of collecting the prescribed government fine from passengers caught without tickets and giving a firm computerized receipt for the same, used to ‘set’ some money on the spot and warm their pockets. After the introduction of live and safe recording of body cameras, this game has become completely impossible. The camera will record the audio and visuals of every transaction, so that neither any TTE will be able to ask for a bribe nor any passenger will be able to offer to be released by paying money. Railway Vigilance Department will do random auditing of these recordings, which will completely eliminate the scope for corruption.
In local trains, often during ticket checking, heated arguments, pushing and even fighting occur between the passengers and the TTE. Many times, defiant passengers caught without ticket would lodge a complaint with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) or GRP by accusing the TTE of misbehavior, abusing or snatching money. Many times, passengers used to allege that despite having valid tickets, the TTE misbehaved with them. Now the recordings of body-worn cameras will serve as an impartial and irrefutable digital evidence. In case of any dispute, the senior officers sitting in the control room will be able to sort out the situation in just a few minutes after seeing the footage, which will provide security to the honest railway workers and there will be no atrocities against the passengers.
Along with body cameras, use of handheld terminals (HHT machines) already provided to TTEs of Mumbai suburban network has also now been made mandatory. As soon as a passenger is caught without a ticket, the TTE will immediately generate an e-challan from the digital machine. Along with cash payment, passengers will be able to pay the fine digitally on the spot through UPI, QR code, debit or credit card. As soon as the fine is deposited, a digital acknowledgment (SMS receipt) will be sent to the passenger’s registered mobile number and the data will be updated directly on the central server of the Railways. Matching the video footage of the body camera and the time-stamp of the HHT machine has permanently closed the way for any manipulation of paper receipts.
The number of AC local trains on Mumbai local network is increasing rapidly. General second class pass holders often enter the cold coaches of AC local, causing huge inconvenience to the valid ticket holders of AC local. Teams equipped with body cameras are now being deployed for intensive checking, especially in AC local, First Class and Divyang coaches. Commercial officials of Western Railway and Central Railway believe that this transparent and strict system will create fear of law in the minds of those traveling without tickets, due to which they will travel only by purchasing tickets from the ticket window or UTS mobile app. This will significantly increase the suburban revenue of Indian Railways and the journey of common passengers traveling in local trains will become safer, easier and more disciplined than before.