24 June,2026 06:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The SOS alert automatically shares the commuter’s live location along with key journey details. Representational Pic
The Central Railway's Railway Protection Force (RPF), in collaboration with the Yatri App, has launched a new SOS safety feature for women commuters on Mumbai's suburban railway network.
The feature was officially inaugurated on Tuesday at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), in the presence of senior Central Railway officials, the Divisional Security Commissioner (Mumbai Division), and representatives from the Yatri App.
According to officials, Mumbai's suburban railway system, among the busiest in the world, serves lakhs of women commuters daily. The newly introduced SOS function is designed to provide a direct, technology-enabled link to the RPF during emergencies while travelling on trains, platforms, foot-over bridges (FOBs) and station premises.
Once activated, the SOS alert automatically shares the commuter's live location along with key journey details, including train number, route, rake information and nearest stations, enabling quicker identification and response by security personnel.
The SOS icon will be visible only to users who have selected 'female' as their gender profile on the Yatri App. The feature will be operational daily from 10 pm to 6 am and includes a five-second cancellation window to prevent accidental triggers.
Unlike conventional emergency helplines, the system does not require manual location sharing. Once activated, it instantly transmits live location and travel details directly to the RPF control room for swift action.
The process is triggered when a commuter in distress opens the app and taps the SOS button, after which the alert is automatically routed to the control room, enabling field teams to respond based on real-time data.
Officials said the integration is expected to significantly reduce response time and improve coordination during emergencies by providing train-specific and location-based inputs to RPF personnel.
Central Railway said the initiative marks a step towards technology-driven policing and enhanced passenger safety on Mumbai's suburban network, reiterating its commitment to ensuring secure and comfortable travel for all commuters.
Central Railway's Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel saved the lives of two passengers in separate incidents at Maharashtra's Nashik Road and Wardha stations under "Operation Jeevan Raksha".
Under Operation Jeevan Raksha, RPF personnel have been rescuing passengers who endanger themselves while boarding or alighting moving trains.
On May 12, Constable Gautam Birhade of RPF Post Nashik Road, while on duty from 4 pm to midnight, rescued a passenger who fell into a dangerous gap while attempting to board a moving train.
The passenger, who had briefly detrained from Train No 01027 Dadar-Gorakhpur Special to purchase items, panicked as the train began departing and tried to re-board it. During the attempt, he lost balance and slipped, placing his life in imminent danger.
Constable Birhade immediately rushed to the spot, rescued the passenger from the gap, and signalled the train guard to stop the train. The passenger was subsequently re-boarded safely.
In another incident on May 31, Woman Head Constable Kalpana Jadhav of RPF Post Wardha, while on platform duty from 8 am to 8 pm, saved a pregnant passenger from a potentially fatal accident.
Around 12.20 pm, after the departure of Train No 12655 Navjeevan Express from Platform No 1, she noticed the passenger attempting to board a moving coach. The passenger lost balance during the attempt and came dangerously close to the gap.
Displaying prompt presence of mind, Constable Jadhav immediately rushed forward and pulled the passenger away from the moving train, preventing a serious accident.
Central Railway has appealed to passengers not to board or alight from moving trains, stating that such actions can prove fatal. In case of emergencies, passengers can contact the Railway Helpline 139 or seek assistance from RPF, Government Railway Police (GRP), or on-duty railway staff.
