Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday launched R-Mitra (Railway Mobile Instant Tracking Response and Assistance) , a mobile app, to ensure the security of of woman passengers of Eastern Railways (ER).
Noting that the app is designed on the lines of existing systems in Mumbai and Secunderabad, ER General Manager R.K. Gupta said, however, the newly launched app is more advanced.
One of the unique features of this is app is that it allows women to click the photographs of people who harass them and forward the image to the security control room.
According to Gupta, R-Mitra helps the women passengers to alert the nearest RPF inspector and divisional security control room in case of an emergency just with the click of a button.
Another special feature of the app, available to Android users, is that it can be used even when the user is offline. Soon, the app will be made available to iPhone users as well, according to media reports.
A railway official said the physical location of the user will be sent to the DSCR through GPS after the message is sent and help will soon reach the victim. “Those who do not have smartphones can simply type ERAILHELP, followed by a message send it to 56161," the official said.
Prabhu said the app will act as a deterrent to criminals and added that no amount of security is sufficient unless we use technology.
