The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has partnered with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to enhance the security of mobile phones for train passengers. This initiative aims to streamline the tracing and recovery of lost or stolen mobile devices, reinforcing safety in the digital ecosystem.

Passengers frequently misplace or lose mobile phones while traveling by train or at railway stations. To address this issue, DoT and RPF have integrated the Rail Madad app with the Sanchar Saathi platform, allowing seamless complaint registration and tracking. The Sanchar Saathi platform enables the blocking of reported lost or stolen mobile phones, while Rail Madad is an Indian Railways mobile application designed to assist passengers with grievances and complaints.

To facilitate this initiative, 17 Railway Zones and over 70 RPF Divisions are being onboarded onto the Sanchar Saathi portal. Now, passengers can report their lost or stolen mobile devices through the Rail Madad app, and the complaint details will automatically be transferred to Sanchar Saathi for blocking, tracking, and alerting RPF authorities.

A training session was conducted for RPF officers across 17 railway divisions, with over 250 officers and DoT’s LSA field unit officials in attendance. DoT officials briefed participants on the Sanchar Saathi platform and its role in mobile security, as well as other technological solutions for tackling emerging challenges.

During the session’s inauguration, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), emphasized the importance of technology in crime prevention and law enforcement. He hailed the onboarding of RPF on Sanchar Saathi as a crucial step in protecting citizens from cyber fraud and telecom-related crimes.

RPF Director General Shri Manoj Yadav reaffirmed RPF’s commitment to passenger safety, noting that under Operation Aamanat, RPF had recovered and returned lost items worth ?84 crore in the past year. He stated that integrating RPF with Sanchar Saathi would enhance citizens’ confidence in recovering lost mobile phones.

Established in 1957, RPF has played a pivotal role in ensuring the security of India's vast railway network. The integration of Sanchar Saathi is expected to significantly improve mobile safety for railway passengers. Various state police departments, including those in Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, have successfully used the Sanchar Saathi system to recover and return mobile phones to rightful owners. So far, approximately 30 lakh mobile devices have been blocked through the platform, with around 18 lakh traced and 3.87 lakh successfully recovered.

DoT urges citizens to continue reporting lost or stolen mobile phones through the CEIR module of Sanchar Saathi (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in) to enhance telecom security and consumer protection. The department remains committed to rigorous monitoring and prompt action to safeguard user interests.