Satellite surveillance of trains to stop oil, coal theft

NEW DELHI: It will now be tough to steal oil and coal from goods trains at unauthorised stations as satellites of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will not only inform passengers about their destinations but will also surveil the trains.

Real-time monitoring of the movement of the goods trains has started in the control office application system through ISRO’s satellite. GPS systems in more than 700 trains have been installed for this.

Goods trains, especially those which transport coal and oil (diesel and petrol), are major source of earnings for Indian Railways. However, complaints of theft of oil and coal are often received, which involves the running staff, railway security forces (RPF), and local employee mafia of railway stations.