Latest news with #CVVRS
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Mumbai Railway motormen threaten to limit duty hours over signal call-out Rule
Mumbai: Train operations on Central Railway (CR) could be affected this week as motormen threaten to work only "One Detail" a day in protest against the administration's decision to make signal call-outs mandatory. "One Detail" refers to completing a single scheduled shift of trips. Currently, due to staff shortages, several motormen voluntarily take up additional duties—called "Second Detail "—especially during peak hours to ensure services run on time. Motormen are objecting to the insistence on calling out every signal aspect—green, yellow, or red—which is being recorded through the Crew Voice and Video Recording System (CVVRS) installed inside the motor cab. The device captures both visuals and audio to enhance safety and act as evidence in case of any mishap. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Union members claimed the administration earlier agreed that calling out signals would be optional, a decision made during a meeting in May. "They have now gone back on their word," said a representative of a railway union. An internal circular dated July 21 reiterates that signal call-outs are "mandatory" and needed to prevent SPAD (Signal Passed At Danger) cases. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Anne Hegerty And Her Partner, Who You Will Easily Recognize Sport Pirate Undo by Taboola by Taboola "All motormen are advised to call out signals loud and clear," the circular states. Union leaders say it is impractical to call out signals every few hundred metres across long shifts, especially on routes like Karjat, Kasara, and Panvel–CSMT. "There are signal poles every 450–750 metres. Repeated call-outs over long hours are stressful," said a senior union leader. A CR official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "This is a safety protocol. Calling out signals keeps the motorman mentally alert and reinforces awareness of track conditions, especially in high-risk zones."
Hindustan Times
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Local trains being fitted with CCTVs, voice recorders to improve safety
Mumbai: Trains that ply on the suburban network in Mumbai are being fitted with a crew voice and video recording system (CVVRS) that will capture live visuals and audio of tracks and crew members during journeys. The Central Railways (CR) and Western Railways (WR) have installed the system on 25 and 26 local train rakes, respectively, and further procurement is underway, said officials. Every local train has two motorcabs – for the motorman at the front and the train manager at the rear end (Hindustan Times) 'The primary goal behind installing the CVVRS is to improve operational safety and efficiency by monitoring the track conditions in front of and around the train,' a senior railway official told Hindustan Times, requesting anonymity. Videos and recordings of conversations among crew members could provide valuable clues to investigators in case of mishaps such as the one in Mumbra on June 9 wherein five commuters died after falling off a local train, he said. 'The accident occurred when a long distance train headed in the opposite direction passed by the local train. But neither train had CCTV cameras which could show what went wrong and how such tragedies could be averted,' the official said. The move to install CVVRS on local train rakes and locomotives of long distance trains has been expedited following the Mumbra accident, said sources in the railways. AI-powered gear Every local train has two motorcabs – for the motorman at the front and the train manager at the rear end. The CVVRS kit for each motorcab comprises six CCTV cameras and audio recording equipment. Two CCTV cameras capture the track ahead, while two cameras capture the motorman in the front or the train manager at the rear of the rake. Two other CCTV cameras with 180-degree view capture visuals on either side of the track. 'The cameras inside showing the motorman and the train manager will help ascertain if protocols were followed in case of any untoward incident. Voice recordings of crew members will also show if circumspect situations were called out as per the safety colour-code,' an official said. Another official said the CVVRS has AI-powered features that will enable officials to remotely monitor local train services and avert accidents. 'The system will detect drowsiness or distraction among motormen including unauthorised use of phones and trigger alerts in case of potential hazards. It will help us communicate with motormen on the go,' said the WR official. The cost of fitting the CVVRS in each motorcab is around ₹ 1-1.25 lakh, said officials. Concerns Last month, railway unions protested against the move to install the CVVRS on local trains in Mumbai, saying it could distract motormen, breach their privacy and be misused for taking administrative action against them for the smallest of reasons. The railway administration has assured that the system will be used solely for constructive feedback and counselling, not for punitive purposes. The Railway Board has also defended the move, saying it will improve operational safety and assist in post-incident analyses. The CVVRS places no additional burden on crew members and is purely aimed at ensuring safe train operations, the Board said in a directive to all zonal railway general managers in May, railway officials told HT. Apart from local train rakes, WR is also installing CCTVs on locomotives as per specifications from the Research, Design and Standards Organisation of Indian Railways. The cost of installing CCTV in each locomotive is around ₹ 8-10 lakh, said officials. WR has 978 locomotives in its fleet.
