WR audit report says non-commuters congest entry and exit points while using the facility
Free WiFi at railway stations has become a reason for a major crowd. According to the audit report of Western Railway, non-commuters also stand at the end of the foot-over bridges (FOBs), staircases and use the WiFi, which causes congestion.
The audit report mentions the misuse of free WiFi provided at important suburban stations. In Mumbai, there are 19 railway stations where WiFi network have been set up. Those stations are Mumbai Central, Kurla, Thane, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Bandra Terminus, Vashi, Kalyan, Panvel, Borivali, Churchgate, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Byculla, Khar Road, Dadar (Central Railway), Dadar ( Western Railway), Andheri, and Bandra.
Senior WR officials said that they are now planning to restrict its frequency. They have found that some unscrupulous elements even watch pornography using the free WiFi at rail stations. The audit team observed that people just stand near the entry or exit of stations without any intention to travel.
"Hence, it is recommended that the availability of WiFi should be restricted to main concourse hall and not on all platforms/FOBs. A provision shall also be made to switch off the WiFi during the night," mentions the report.
This decision has been taken as one of the ways to decongest railway stations. The authorities will also clear unwanted structures, boxes, toilet blocks, and food stalls that block free movement.
Apart from this, they have also made it mandatory to have anti skid material and roughened granite on the landings of FOBs. All new FOBs should be planned with both side landings with a provision of ramp landing at either side for convenience of Divyang passengers. Also, staircase landing of FOBs and entrance should be made uniform.
NEW VIDEO SYSTEM
- Presently, 1060 CCTV cameras are available at 30 suburban stations that provides live video feed which is monitored at every station either by RPF staff or station masters. The requirement to comprehensively cover all the 30 stations of Suburban section has been assessed as 2729 cameras.
- In the new system, live video feed of CCTV cameras shall be monitored at every station in the Divisional Control Room at Mumbai Central. The newly proposed Video Surveillance System shall include video analytic software with facility for generating alarm for people crossing the tracks at Platform ends, people entering Railways operation areas, object/baggage left behind at Platform/waiting areas/ticketing counters and overcrowding at stations.
- Face recognition software shall also be provided which shall capture faces from live video modes and generate alarm if black list match is found. The system shall be able to make suspected faces from pre-recorded video feeds. All these upgrade has been sought by the audit teams which were created on both WR and CR after the Elphinstone Road stampede that left 23 people dead.
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