New Delhi: The 8th All India Conference of Government Railway Police (GRP) Chiefs, organised by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), concluded in New Delhi on 23 October, 2026, with discussions on railway security, passenger safety and coordination between railway and state police authorities.
The conference was chaired by RPF Director General Sonali Mishra and attended by Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar, Board members and GRP chiefs from various states and Union Territories.
GRP Personnel Onboarded onto RailMadad
A key development at the conference was the onboarding of GRP personnel onto the RailMadad platform by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS).
The move is intended to improve passenger grievance redressal, enable faster information-sharing and strengthen complaint monitoring.
Focus on Stone-Pelting and Railway Security
Stone-pelting on trains was among the security challenges discussed at the meeting. Participants stressed hotspot-based patrolling, better surveillance, strict action against offenders and stronger coordination between RPF, GRP and state police.
The conference also highlighted community awareness and engagement with young people as ways to prevent such incidents.
South Central Railway presented its “Pink Patrol: Eyes in the Sky, SHAKTI on the Ground” initiative. The model combines drone-assisted surveillance with women-led rapid-response teams under the SHAKTI framework.
Festival Crowd Management and Passenger Safety
Security arrangements for Diwali, Chhath and other festivals also featured in the discussions. Northern Railway’s Delhi Division shared its experience of coordinating with Delhi Police, GRP and Delhi Metro authorities to manage passenger movement during peak periods.
Measures highlighted included:
CCTV surveillance and public announcements
Barricading and designated passenger holding areas
Dedicated control rooms
Planning and coordinated deployment of security personnel
The discussions focused on managing crowds and maintaining orderly passenger movement at busy railway stations during festivals.
Project DISHA Targets Children Living Near Railway Tracks
Central Railway’s Pune Division presented Project DISHA (Dedicated Initiative for Safety, Harmony & Awareness), which engages children living near railway tracks through educational and recreational activities, safety sessions and community outreach.
The initiative works with NGOs, National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers and local communities to promote safe behaviour around railway infrastructure. It also seeks to discourage stone-pelting, theft, trespassing and other unsafe activities.
Joint Training and Intelligence-Sharing
The conference also covered joint RPF-GRP training, sabotage prevention and timely sharing of information on narcotics detection.
Participants discussed the need for better digital evidence handling, standardised procedures, intelligence-sharing, stronger investigation capabilities and adequate supporting infrastructure.
Addressing the gathering, Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar called for closer coordination among railway authorities, RPF, GRP and state police to respond to evolving security challenges. He also stressed the importance of professional and courteous policing, passenger confidence, technological innovation and improved operational efficiency.
In his closing remarks, RPF Director General Sonali Mishra emphasised intelligence-led policing as a key element in strengthening railway security.
