In a latest initiative to promote women’s safety, the North Eastern Railway plans to Install ‘Panic Button’ in Trains. It is also planning to deploy women police personnel on trains during night hours.
“With reports of mishappenings with women travelling alone in trains, the railways also proposes to have ‘panic buttons’ in the coaches which will be linked with the guard coach,” chief PRO of NER, Sanjay Yadav said.
“These buttons, placed at convenient spots for easy reach of women travellers above the electric switches, when pressed will denote the coach where there is an emergency and the railway staff present in the train will be informed to promptly attend to the emergency,” he also added.
Until now, women passengers were dependent either on chain-pulling in an emergency situation or on helpline numbers by call or SMS. But with this system, immediate action can be taken if a woman’s safety is being threatened during a journey.
Other proposed measures include having different colour coaches reserved only for women travellers and wire mesh in windows of such coaches.
“Work on these proposals was going on and there are chances that the one pertaining to ‘panic button’ will take shape this year itself,” he added.
The other initiatives mentioned by the officer are as below:
1) CCTV cameras in women coaches of suburban trains with live feed if possible.
2) CCTV cameras on platforms to cover ladies coaches during halts.
3) Proposed alterations and amendments in the Railways Act to ensure stricter punishment for offenses pertaining to women.
