In India, railways are not just a means of transportation, but the backbone of the country's economic, social, and industrial system. The Indian railway network, which stretches from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, is considered one of the largest railway networks in the world. With assets worth billions, thousands of kilometers of railway tracks, bridges, signaling systems, and a vast amount of iron materials owned by the railways, it is a surprising reality for many that despite such a large amount of iron being openly available, it is not stolen.
At any railway station in the country, in the railway yard, or even in deserted areas, you will see spare parts of railway tracks, iron sleepers, plates, or other materials lying around for years. Generally, if such iron is found elsewhere, it would be immediately stolen. However, this does not happen with railways, and there are some very important reasons behind it. The most important reason is that each iron part of the railway has specific symbolic numbers, marks, and identification numbers engraved on it. These numbers are understood only by the railway administration and the concerned officials. Therefore, if any railway track or iron is stolen and an attempt is made to sell it as scrap, it is immediately recognized.
The second important reason is the strict laws for the theft of railway property. Stealing railway property is considered a serious crime. Immediate action is taken in such cases by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), railway police, and local police. If found guilty, there is provision for many years of imprisonment, a hefty fine, or both. Additionally, constant patrolling of railway premises, intelligence systems, and cooperation from local citizens help curb theft. Therefore, railway iron, tracks, or other materials are not easily stolen. Overall, due to strict laws, specific identification numbers, and stringent security arrangements, Indian railway property remains safe even today.