Indian Railways Drone Surveillance Amid SC Safety Scrutiny
To combat track tampering, stone pelting, and theft, Indian Railways drone surveillance is being significantly scaled up through the expanded use of high-tech aerial monitoring. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is deploying drones equipped with high-resolution cameras to provide real-time monitoring of tracks, station premises, and rail yards to detect suspicious activity and manage crowds.
ECoR Leads Drone Security Initiative
The East Coast Railway (ECoR) is spearheading this technological shift. Currently, the division has deployed 11 drones across 284 stations within the Khurda Road, Sambalpur, and Rayagada divisions. This fleet is expected to double, reaching 22 drones by March 2027.
High-Risk 'RED-coded' Sorties
Data reveals the intensity of these operations. Between January 1 and September 15, 2026, the ECoR's RPF conducted a total of 3,033 drone sorties. Notably, 1,265 of these were classified as 'RED-coded' sorties. These specific missions are targeted at high-risk activities, including:
- Preventing sabotage and stone pelting
- Monitoring for cable theft
- Detecting fire risks near tracks
Supreme Court Demands Faster Safety Progress
While security technology advances, Indian Railways is under intense judicial scrutiny regarding its core safety infrastructure. On October 14-15, 2026, reports surfaced regarding a Supreme Court directive issued on October 6, in which Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan expressed "utter disappointment and displeasure" with the slow pace of safety progress.
The Court specifically highlighted several critical failures, including:
- Failure to meet annual targets for fencing railway tracks
- Delays in the implementation of the Kavach train protection system
- Slow construction of essential foot overbridges
The Supreme Court has now mandated that the Railway Board be held directly accountable for accelerating these vital safety improvements to ensure the security of the rail network.