The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has partnered with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to block, trace, and recover lost or stolen mobile phones of passengers traveling by train. This initiative leverages the integration of DoT’s Sanchar Saathi platform with the Rail Madad app to provide enhanced safety and security in the digital ecosystem.
Key Highlights
Mobile Loss in Trains: Mobile phones are the most common items reported lost or stolen by passengers on trains and at stations.
Integration of Rail Madad and Sanchar Saathi:
- Passengers can lodge complaints about lost or stolen phones via the Rail Madad app.
- Details of these complaints are transferred to the Sanchar Saathi portal, enabling device blocking, tracing, and generating alerts for RPF recovery efforts.
Onboarding RPF Personnel: Over 250 officers across 17 railway zones and 70+ divisions have been onboarded to the Sanchar Saathi portal, boosting efficiency in recovery operations.
Achievements via CEIR Module:
- 30 lakh mobile devices blocked to date.
- 18 lakh devices traced successfully.
- 3.87 lakh devices recovered and returned to their rightful owners.
Features of Sanchar Saathi Platform
The Sanchar Saathi platform facilitates the blocking of stolen or lost mobile phones to prevent misuse, while also enabling tracing and recovery. Integration with Rail Madad adds a seamless complaint system for passengers.
During a recent training session for RPF officers, the key features and benefits of Sanchar Saathi were discussed. Officers from DoT’s LSA field units also attended, gaining insights into technological solutions to address emerging challenges.
Leadership Insights
Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), said,
With the rapid advancement of technology, the role of digital tools in crime prevention and law enforcement is more critical than ever.
He emphasized the onboarding of RPF onto the Sanchar Saathi portal as a milestone in safeguarding citizens from cyber fraud and telecom misuse.
Shri Manoj Yadav, Director General of RPF, highlighted the organization’s efforts under Operation Aamanat, where items worth ₹84 crores were recovered in the last year. He noted,
The onboarding of RPF at the Sanchar Saathi portal will give an assurance of recovery of the lost/stolen handsets to the citizens.
Success Stories
RPF has played a key role in railway security since its establishment in 1957. Integration with Sanchar Saathi is expected to revolutionize mobile safety in trains. State police forces, including Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, have demonstrated exceptional use of the Sanchar Saathi platform for public service.
Encouraging Citizen Participation
Citizens are encouraged to report their lost or stolen mobile phones using the CEIR module available on the Sanchar Saathi platform at sancharsaathi.gov.in.
The app, available for download on Google Play Store and iOS, allows users to report misuse of telecom resources in cybercrimes and cyber frauds.