The Tamil Nadu Railway Protection Force (RPF) has rolled out a pioneering initiative, launching the “Rail Women Passenger Safety” WhatsApp group to bolster security for women travelers amid a troubling uptick in train-related crimes.

Spearheaded by Railway DGP Vanniyaperumal, the group was unveiled on Monday, aiming to unite regular commuters—vegetable vendors, students, working professionals, and women RPF officers—in a real-time network to report suspicious activities and curb offenses on Tamil Nadu’s bustling rail routes.

The move comes as incidents of harassment and violence against women on trains spike, spotlighting gaps in railway safety. Just last week, a four-month pregnant woman suffered a miscarriage after being assaulted and pushed from a moving train near Jolarpet, with the suspect arrested under multiple charges.

The WhatsApp group empowers its members, many seasoned travelers, to share intel on potential threats, leveraging their familiarity with fellow passengers to spot troublemakers swiftly. “These women know the rails inside out—they’re our eyes and ears,” a senior RPF official noted.

Open to women across Tamil Nadu’s 47 key railway hubs, the initiative complements existing measures like the Meri Saheli squads and helpline 139, which logged over 3,000 distress calls in 2024 alone.

With India’s railway network ferrying 23 million passengers daily—4.6 million of them women—the RPF aims to bridge enforcement gaps, especially after 1.5 lakh safety posts remain vacant nationwide, per Railway Ministry data. The group’s launch aligns with a broader push, including plans for alarm systems and CCTV upgrades announced in February.

As train crimes—ranging from molestation to theft—climb, with Tamil Nadu reporting 300+ cases in 2024, this grassroots approach signals a shift toward community-driven vigilance. For now, the RPF bets on technology and collective action to reclaim safety for women on the move.