Maharashtra to boost CCTV coverage, police patrolling on Mumbai locals after fatal stabbing

Railway police plan to intensify baggage checks and launch a safety awareness campaign after a fatal stabbing on a Mumbai local train renewed calls for airport-style security screening

PGurus Newsdesk

July 2, 2026

Minister Yogesh Kadam says the accused in commuter Mayank Lohar's murder was arrested within 15 hours using CCTV and facial recognition, as the state outlines new safety measures for Mumbai's local trains

After Mayank Lohar murder, Maharashtra plans CCTV and patrolling boost on local trains

The Maharashtra government has announced plans to expand CCTV coverage and step up police patrolling across Mumbai’s suburban railway network, following the recent fatal stabbing of a young commuter aboard a moving local train.

Accused arrested within 15 hours using facial recognition

Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam told the state assembly that the accused in the murder of 22-year-old commuter Mayank Lohar was tracked and arrested within 15 hours after police analysed CCTV footage and used facial recognition technology, adding that legal action had been initiated against him. He was responding to an opposition adjournment motion over the June 23 killing of Lohar, who was stabbed inside a first-class coach of a Churchgate-Nalasopara local train.

Screening every commuter “impracticable,” minister says Kadam pointed to the sheer scale of Mumbai’s suburban rail network, noting that with roughly 75 to 80 lakh passengers travelling daily, physically screening every commuter is not feasible. He said surveillance instead relies on intelligence inputs, with suspicious individuals specifically checked and railway police conducting surprise inspections and random checks inside coaches.

Government to expand CCTV network, add emergency medical rooms

To prevent similar incidents, Kadam said the state would focus on widening CCTV coverage and reinforcing police patrols across the network. He also said an emergency medical room would be set up at every station so that passengers can receive immediate medical assistance. On women’s safety, he noted that 218 railway security teams currently monitor women’s coaches between 9 pm and 6 am, with four security personnel deployed on every train during those hours.

GRP to launch safety awareness drive, intensify baggage checks

Separately, the Government Railway Police (GRP) said it would launch a public awareness campaign on railway safety while intensifying random baggage checks in the wake of the stabbing. The move follows a review of existing security arrangements by Mumbai Railway Police Commissioner Rakesh Kalasagar, who also met representatives of passenger associations to gather suggestions on improving commuter safety.

Airport-style screening seen as “impractical” by officials

The incident has renewed calls for airport- or metro-style baggage screening across the suburban network. However, security officials say such a system would be difficult to implement given the network’s scale, with more than 100 stations, each with multiple entry and exit points and platforms, making comprehensive baggage checks impractical with current infrastructure and manpower.

Additional baggage scanners have already been installed at several stations, though passenger groups argue that awareness campaigns alone will not be enough to address safety concerns.

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