New Delhi sources stated that in an effort to make train travel safe for women, Indian Railways' Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) is planning to launch an SOS application soon. This app will be a part of railways' efforts to make passengers' journey safer. It is also aimed to offer help immediately in case of an emergency. According to report, the app is being developed in-house by CRIS and it will soon be tried in the country on a pilot basis. Passengers will be able to press a button in case of emergencies which will notify the railway authorities immediately.
As per the report, once the SOS button is pressed, relevant zonal railway authorities will be alerted. Meanwhile a senior railway board official was quoted in the report saying, "The GPS location of the passenger during an emergency will help us to assist passengers immediately. Coordination of the GPS is crucial and we have been working on that. Trials will soon begin across the country."
Moreover it may be noted that Central and Western Railway have already introduced panic buttons in women’s compartments of local trains. However, they have not been very effective since some passengers have pressed the button as pranks. Apart from SOS apps, railways also have a helpline (182) where passengers can register their complaints with RPF. Hence a lot of people have welcomed national transporter's emergency app initiative as they believe that women's safety in trains is a matter of concern.
