The Chennai Division of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) will take stern action against footboard travellers in the wake of the accident that led to the death of five persons at St. Thomas Mount railway station on Tuesday. A senior officer said the RPF has been taking steps to prevent footboard travel on all the four sections, including the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), during morning and evening peak hours. “This is also reflected in the increase in the number of people apprehended and fines imposed year on year, but still the practice persists,” he said.
Last year, RPF personnel caught over 7,000 persons travelling on footboards. This year, they have set a target of nabbing 10,000. RPF plans to deploy special teams at railway stations with handheld cameras to identify repeat offenders and cancel their train passes. On a trial basis, the handheld cameras are already being used in some railway stations on the Tiruvallur section. Also, CCTV cameras have been fitted in some railway stations. “Using the footage, we have been apprehending college students causing nuisance to the public,” an officer said. RPF personnel conduct awareness campaigns at stations such as Central, Egmore, Tambaram and Tiruvallur, the officer said.