Pune’s principal rail gateway, handling over two lakh passengers daily, is operating with roughly 170 functional surveillance cameras a number now under scrutiny amid concerns about blind spots in high-footfall zones. The limited Pune railway station CCTV coverage has drawn renewed attention following a recent criminal incident on the premises, prompting calls for accelerated security upgrades.
Station platforms, foot-overbridges and sections of the circulating area are currently monitored. However, peripheral spaces including parking zones, platform extremities and areas outside the main building remain inadequately covered, according to officials familiar with internal assessments. These gaps are significant for a transport hub that manages nearly 250 train movements each day and serves as a key interchange in western Maharashtra. Railway authorities have confirmed that a proposal to expand surveillance infrastructure has been pending administrative clearance for close to a year. A broader ₹53.82 crore project for the Pune division, envisaging the installation of over 500 additional cameras in yard areas and adjoining premises, is in the pipeline. Yet commuters and safety experts argue that while yard monitoring is essential for operational security, passenger-facing zones require immediate attention.
The urgency has increased as multimodal connectivity at the station intensifies. Integration with the adjoining metro station has expanded access points and pedestrian flows, creating complex movement patterns across entry gates, staircases and forecourts. Urban mobility planners note that such integration demands layered security design combining lighting, active surveillance, visible personnel and digital monitoring particularly in areas with mixed commercial and commuter activity. Senior officials within the railway division state that once the pending proposal receives sanction, installation will move swiftly. They emphasise that budget allocations cover the entire division and not only the central station. However, civic groups contend that delayed implementation risks undermining public confidence in mass transit, especially for women, children and elderly travellers navigating the station during late hours.
Security analysts point out that camera count alone is not the sole metric. Effective coverage requires strategic placement, real-time monitoring and integration with railway police control rooms. Modern surveillance systems also enable data analytics, crowd-density assessment and incident response coordination tools increasingly critical in large urban transit nodes.
For Pune, a rapidly expanding education, manufacturing and technology hub, the station remains an economic artery linking labour markets and supply chains. Ensuring comprehensive Pune railway station CCTV coverage aligns with broader goals of people-first infrastructure and inclusive urban growth.As capital expenditure on rail modernisation rises nationally, the focus is gradually shifting from aesthetics to safety resilience. The coming months will test whether administrative approvals translate into visible improvements on the ground reinforcing the station’s role as a secure, accessible and future-ready mobility hub.
