Indian Railways Floats Rs 20,000 Cr Tender For CCTV Installation In Coaches
The project aims to equip over 40,000 train coaches with more than 7.5 million CCTV cameras, ensuring improved monitoring and security across the network
In a significant move to enhance passenger safety, Indian Railways has issued a Rs 20,000-crore Request for Proposal (RFP) for installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras in its coaches.
The project aims to equip over 40,000 train coaches with more than 7.5 million CCTV cameras, ensuring improved monitoring and security across the network. The earnest money deposit for the bid has been set at Rs 8,98,610.
“This is a critical development requiring collaboration across hardware, software, and data infrastructure,” said an executive from a digital infrastructure provider planning to bid as part of a consortium.
The tender, published on October 24, outlines stringent eligibility criteria for bidders:
Companies must have an average annual turnover of at least Rs 1,200 crore in the last three financial years (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23).
They should have executed a project worth Rs 60 crore, two projects worth Rs 40 crore each, or three projects worth Rs 30 crore each for government IT services.
Bidders must have prior experience in installing at least 800 CCTV cameras within a project that includes an integrated command and control centre and data infrastructure.
The deadline for bid submissions is November 15, though industry insiders anticipate an extension.
The plan requires six cameras per passenger coach and eight for second-class luggage rake for disabled (SLRD) coaches, with two cameras allocated to the luggage compartment and display screens in the guard room.
The project will likely involve a primary bidder, typically an infrastructure company, supported by a network of sub-contractors specialising in hardware, data centres, cloud services, and digital infrastructure. Leading technology firms like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft may play a role in the cloud services component.
This tender updates previous iterations with enhanced specifications, including compliance with the ‘Make in India’ initiative. These revisions aim to ensure robust quality and compatibility with domestic manufacturing standards.
This project underscores Indian Railways' commitment to leveraging technology for passenger safety and convenience. Beyond improving surveillance, it aligns with the government's digital infrastructure initiatives.
Industry players see this as a transformative step that could set a benchmark for integrating advanced technology into India’s railways.
