6th All India Conference of GRP Chiefs Concludes

The 6th All India Conference of Government Railway Police (GRP) Chiefs, organized under the aegis of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), concluded successfully today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in the joint mission to strengthen passenger safety and secure the Indian Railways network.

Chaired by RPF Director General Shri Manoj Yadava, the high-level conference brought together Directors General of Police (DGPs), Additional DGPs, and senior GRP officials from different states and union territories, along with key officials from the Ministry of Railways. Over two days, the forum served as a crucial platform to develop unified strategies against emerging threats to passenger safety on the railways.

Strengthening Synergy: Core Agenda and Objectives

At the heart of the conference was the overarching theme of “Collaborative Policing for Safer Railways.” The discussions revolved around building stronger inter-agency coordination, enhanced intelligence-sharing, and joint operational planning to counter the increasing sophistication of criminal activities within the railway ecosystem.

Key resolutions included:

• Establishing standardized crime response protocols across state GRP units.
• Converting complaints of passenger property theft lodged on the Rail Madad portal into formal FIRs, improving detection rates and deterrence.
• Deploying technology-driven surveillance systems, including Facial Recognition Technology (FRT), to identify and track offenders across jurisdictions.
• Enhancing real-time information flow and interstate collaboration to curb cross-border criminal operations.

Women’s Safety: Central to the Discussion

A major focus area of the conference was crimes against women passengers, particularly theft, harassment, and assault. The delegates jointly resolved to bolster existing initiatives with:

• Enhanced deployment of “Meri Saheli” teams throughout trains and railway stations.
• Expanded coverage of CCTV surveillance in critical areas.
• Enhanced patrolling in vulnerable zones and night-hour routes.
• Promoting women-friendly awareness campaigns to improve confidence and ensure early reporting.

These measures aim to foster a travel environment where women passengers feel safe, empowered, and protected throughout their journey.

Tackling Organized Crime and Drug Smuggling

With organized interstate criminal syndicates increasingly targeting high-value passenger belongings, GRP chiefs emphasized the need for:

• Coordinated operations and joint surveillance missions across state boundaries.
• Intelligence-led raids based on predictive crime mapping.
• Upgrading response capabilities using mobile tech units, body cams, and AI-enabled monitoring tools.

In addition, strategies were outlined to clamp down on the misuse of railway premises by drug traffickers and smugglers, through randomized checks, sniffer dog squads, and tighter entry/exit surveillance protocols.

Terror Threats and Critical Infrastructure Security

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) made a vital presentation on the emerging terror threats to railway infrastructure, underlining the need for:

• Vulnerability audits of critical junctions and high-density corridors.
• Deployment of Quick Response Teams (QRTs) at sensitive locations.
• Coordination between state GRPs and central intelligence agencies for immediate threat neutralization.

Special attention was directed toward station security during festivals, pilgrimages, and public rallies, when railway assets become more vulnerable.

Safeguarding Children on Railway Premises

The issue of child trafficking and missing children within railway premises was discussed with deep concern. GRP officers shared field experiences and best practices for:

• Early identification of vulnerable children through behavioral markers.
• Timely intervention by Railway Childline and NGOs.
• Standardized SOPs for rescue, documentation, and rehabilitation.

This aligns with the national commitment to uphold the rights and dignity of every child and ensure zero tolerance towards exploitation.

A Unified Commitment: Words from the DG RPF

In his concluding address, DG RPF Shri Manoj Yadava emphasized the significance of collaborative law enforcement on Indian Railways. He stated:

“Ensuring crime control across the expansive Indian Railways is a shared responsibility, not one confined to a single agency. It requires seamless coordination, unified efforts, and real-time intelligence sharing. The strong resolve demonstrated today by GRP and RPF leadership from across the country reaffirms our unwavering commitment to making railway travel safer, more secure, and resilient against criminal threats.”

His remarks echoed the spirit of the conference — one of unity, vigilance, and transformation.

Conclusion: Towards a Zero-Tolerance Railway Network

The 6th All India GRP Chiefs Conference concluded with a joint pledge to transform Indian Railways into a zero-tolerance zone for crime. It highlighted the vital role of coordinated policing, technology adoption, passenger awareness, and proactive security measures in protecting India’s rail lifeline.

As the Indian Railways continues to serve over 23 million passengers daily, the resolve of the GRP and RPF forces to collaborate, innovate, and secure will remain pivotal in ensuring a safe journey for every citizen.