However, railway officials say the precise roadmap to implementing these measures is still unclear. While mobile ticketing is still a hazy concept at best, the Integrated Security Plan mentions little more than the Closed Circuit Television Cameras already installed.

Officials of the Central Railway (CR), which has undertaken a pilot project for ticket-purchase through smart cards, feel that the ‘Go Mumbai Card’ could be equally successful. “We have got 175 smart card Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), which will be installed at 40 stations. And so far, four stations are using it. The response is good. The Go Mumbai Card will also reduce long queues. It will be beneficial for commuters,” said Public Relations Officer A K Singh.

However, a senior Western Railway official pointed out that there is a series of difficulties the railways will encounter with the Go Mumbai Card. Since the card has to be swiped at a sensor-equipped card reader at the entry and exit points to record the exact cost of the journey, huge crowds using the local trains and trying to swipe the card will be a huge challenge. In a way, the number of card readers will determine the success of these cards.

However, Singh said: “The card won’t have to be punched. There will be sensors installed and the commuter just needs to show the card. Moreover, we will give special equipment to the ticket checking staff who can also record the journey and cut the cost.”

That means all stations across Mumbai will have to be equipped with card readers, a factor Singh agreed would be a key factor to ensure the scheme’s success.