Mumbai’s suburban local trains—often called the city’s lifeline—are once again at the centre of a safety controversy. Rising incidents of theft, molestation, harassment, and violent assaults are being linked to a critical infrastructure failure: poor-quality or non-functional CCTV cameras across Central Railway stations.

Despite repeated promises of enhanced surveillance and modern security systems, the on-ground reality paints a troubling picture. At several major stations, CCTV footage is either blurred, unusable, or simply unavailable—seriously compromising commuter safety.

Cameras That Fail to Capture Crime

Surveys by commuter groups show that stations such as Thane, Kurla, Dadar, Ghatkopar, Kalyan, and Byculla are plagued by cameras with extremely poor resolution. Instead of identifiable faces, footage often shows nothing more than shadowy outlines and blurred movements.

Investigators admit that in most theft or harassment cases:

• Faces are not visible

• Movements are indistinct

• Camera angles fail to cover critical areas

In several stations, 20–30% of cameras are damaged or disconnected, while many others are coated in dust. Foot overbridges, entry gates, and platform ends—areas with the highest crime rates—often remain blind spots.

Rising Crime Despite “Thousands of Cameras” on Paper

Central Railway claims robust CCTV coverage across the suburban network. Yet, commuters say the situation on the platforms contradicts the official narrative.

Crimes during peak hours—including mobile snatching, bag lifting, harassment, and platform altercations—often go unrecorded due to outdated technology and inconsistent maintenance.

A daily commuter from Thane summed up the frustration:

“We see cameras everywhere, but most don’t work. When someone’s phone is snatched, RPF checks the footage and says, ‘kuch dikh nahi raha’.”

Passengers Increasingly Feeling Unsafe

With over 35 lakh commuters using Central Railway daily, a failing surveillance system is fueling widespread insecurity:

Women

Report frequent harassment in crowded compartments and poorly lit areas.

Senior Citizens

Face rising incidents of pickpocketing, pushing, and aggressive behaviour.

Office-Goers

Say criminals act confidently knowing footage will not incriminate them.

The absence of reliable surveillance also delays response during medical emergencies, stampedes, or sudden altercations.

Central Railway Faces Growing Accountability Questions

Officials within the RPF and GRP admit, off the record, that unreliable cameras frequently hamper investigations and security planning.
In many cases, culprits simply walk away because they cannot be identified.

These failures raise serious questions about:

• The crores spent on CCTV upgrades

• Lack of third-party audits

• Poor oversight in system maintenance

Experts Call for Immediate Modernisation

Security specialists argue that Mumbai’s suburban network urgently requires:

• High-definition, night-vision cameras

• AI-based real-time monitoring systems

• Regular, transparent maintenance audits

• Elimination of blind spots

• Stronger RPF–GRP–station coordination

Modern rail systems worldwide rely on intelligent surveillance to detect suspicious behaviour and prevent crime. Mumbai, despite being India’s financial capital, has fallen behind.

Passengers Demand Action — Not More Promises

Fed up with rising crime and unusable CCTV footage, commuters are demanding immediate corrective action from Central Railway.

Until robust upgrades and regular maintenance are implemented, passengers fear that on Mumbai’s busiest railway line:

“You are only as safe as your luck.”