The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the South Central Railway’s Hyderabad Division on Thursday launched ‘Pink Patrol’, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Indian Railways that combines women-led drone surveillance with rapid-response policing for MMTS suburban trains.
While long-distance trains are covered under the RPF’s My Saheli initiative, officials said MMTS services pose unique operational challenges, including short-distance travel, high passenger density and faster movement cycles, necessitating a more agile security mechanism. Under Pink Patrol, state-of-the-art drones equipped with advanced surveillance technology have been deployed. These include thermal imaging sensors for low-light and night operations, night vision-enabled optics, high-definition real-time video transmission, long-range zoom capabilities for precision monitoring, and stabilised aerial platforms for continuous tracking of moving trains. The drones also feature rapid deployment capability for emergency response situations.
Officials said the drones will function as aerial first responders, providing real-time situational awareness, eliminating blind spots, and serving as a strong visual deterrent against miscreants. The drone operations are carried out by DGCA-approved RPF women personnel who hold certified remote UAV pilot licences, making it one of the first instances in Indian Railways where trained women drone pilots have been deployed directly in frontline security operations.
