Automatic Thermal Scanners In Railway Stations | Bullet Thermal Image Screening Cameras In Railway Stations
Automatic Thermal Scanners installed at Secunderabad and Hyderabad Railway Stations – Bullet thermal image screening cameras made operationalized at Secunderabad and Hyderabad stations
As a part of precautionary measures being adopted at Railway stations for the safety of the passengers in the wake of pandemic COVID- 19, the Zone has installed bullet thermal image screening cameras one each at Secunderabad and Hyderabad Railway stations for thermal image screening of passengers. The bullet thermal image screening camera equipment consists of thermal screening camera, network video recorder, LED monitors along with alarm mechanism.
Indian Railways has been operating special train services across various destinations for the benefit of passengers. However, only those passengers are being allowed in to the stations and trains who have confirmed tickets and who do not have any symptoms related to COVID-19. To ascertain the later, every passenger has to undergo thermal screening. Deploying these thermal screening devices at major stations like Secunderabad will cut down on the time being taken for screening each passenger as the device can simultaneously screen upto 30 passengers within its range.
Whenever a passenger enters into the camera focusing range, which is approximately 6 meters away from entrance, the camera starts to screen the body temperature of the passengers. The temperature of the passenger will be displayed on the LED monitor as real picture along with 30 thermal images within the coverage area. The body temperature of the passengers recorded by the camera will be exhibited on the LED screen as a text message followed by alert audio alarm.The cameras installed at both stations are able to scan and record the temperature of the passengers standing in two different lines simultaneously. The data stored can also be retrieved, if needed.
One thermal camera has currently been installed at Secunderabad station gate no. 3 on platform no 1 near general booking area and other camera at Hyderabad station main entrance. It is planned to install two more cameras at Secunderabad station in this week. Screening of passengers and operation of the bullet thermal image screening equipment at the entrance of the station is being done by the security and health wing of Railways. Total cost of per camera with accessories around Rs. 4.4 lakh per unit.
Speaking on this occasion, Shri Gajanan Mallya, General Manager, SCR complimented the Secunderabad Division in deploying these devices at the railway stations. He said that the screening of the passengers through this new thermal device will help in handling more number of passengers simultaneously.
Here’s an in-depth and verified overview of Indian Railways’ implementation of automatic thermal scanners and bullet-style thermal-image screening cameras at passenger stations during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Contents
🌡️ Where and When These Cameras Were Deployed
- On 8–9 June 2020, South Central Railway (SCR) installed bullet thermal-image screening cameras at Hyderabad and Secunderabad stations, becoming among the first in India to use automated thermal screening at railway entries.
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⚙️ Technical Details & Operations
- The bullet thermal scanners scan passengers from approximately 6 meters away, capable of monitoring simultaneously up to 30 people across multiple lanes.
- Each unit includes: a thermal camera, LED monitor display, network video recorder (NVR), and an audio alert system to detect elevated body temperatures.
- Temperature readings and thermal imagery are displayed onscreen, with audio warnings when abnormalities are found.
([turn0search4], [turn0search8], [turn0search5], [turn0search1]) - Cost per unit was approximately ₹ 4.4 lakh, covered through contracts with vendors—SCR did not directly fund the equipment under this pilot model.
([turn0search2], [turn0search11]) - Some stations—Eastern Railway’s Malda, Jamalpur, Bhagalpur, Sahibganj—also deployed FebriEye systems integrating thermal scanning with ticket scanning, LED displays, ticket barcode verification, and alarms for elevated temperature or missing tickets.
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🛂 Purpose & Advantages
- Enabled faster, contactless entry for Mail/Express passengers during pandemic protocols, replacing slower manual thermal gun screenings.
- Automated AI-based monitoring allowed simultaneous scanning of multiple individuals, improving throughput while maintaining safety.
- At CSMT and LTT in Mumbai (Central Railway), an AI system called FebriEye was installed to scan passengers and staff before platform entry, featuring dual thermal + visual cameras, Black Body temperature reference unit, and accuracy within ±0.3 °C.
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📊 Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Stations (SCR) | Secunderabad & Hyderabad |
| Equipment Used | Bullet thermal cameras, NVR, LED screens |
| Scanning Range | ~6 m, up to 30 persons simultaneously |
| Accuracy | ±0.3 °C (with Black Body units in FebriEye systems) |
| Cost per Unit | ~₹ 4.4 lakh |
| Additional Features | Ticket scanning, mask detection, audio/visual alarms (FebriEye units) |
| Operational Coverage | All arriving passengers with confirmed tickets; alerts for fever |
🧠 Reflections & Observer Feedback
- The initiative was part of broader safety protocols during COVID-era lockdowns and unlocking phases.
- Reddit threads suggest that, beyond a few major stations, thermal scanners were seldom deployed or maintained, especially at smaller stations where traditional manual checks persisted.
([turn0reddit15], [turn0reddit17]) - Security and tech deployments continue to face challenges—such as malfunctioning scanners or underutilized infrastructure—highlighting the need for robust enforcement and upkeep.
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✅ Key Takeaways
- Pioneering Use: SCR’s bullet thermal-camera initiative in June 2025 represented an early large-scale application of automated fever screening in Indian railway stations.
- High Throughput: Designed to scan many passengers quickly without contact.
- Government Cost Neutral Contracting: Vendors installed and operated scanners at no direct cost to Indian Railways.
- Integration with Ticketing: FebriEye systems in CR and ER paired thermal imaging with ticket validation to prevent symptomatic passengers from boarding.
If you’d like details on:
- Specific station deployments in other zones,
- Standard specifications mandated by RailTel/RDSO,
- Or how FebriEye compares with other AI-based screening systems—just let me know!