DoT and RPF Join Hands to Track and Recover Lost or Stolen Mobile Phones

 

 

In a major step toward improving mobile security and digital safety for railway passengers, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has teamed up with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to launch a nationwide initiative aimed at recovering lost or stolen mobile phones in India. This DoT mobile security initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen citizen services and reduce mobile-related theft across the railway network.

Mobile phones constitute one of the most commonly lost or stolen items by passengers during train journeys and at railway stations. To address this issue, the DoT has integrated its Sanchar Saathi platform—a citizen-centric portal designed to track lost or stolen mobile phones in India—with Indian Railways’ Rail Madad app, a digital grievance redressal system. This new integration streamlines the process of reporting mobile theft or loss and enables passengers to block stolen phones and aid in their recovery.

As part of this collaboration, more than 17 RPF zones and over 70 divisions are currently being onboarded to the Sanchar Saathi portal, marking the beginning of a full-scale RPF mobile recovery collaboration across the country. Passengers can now report stolen or missing phones via the Rail Madad app, and the case details are automatically transferred to Sanchar Saathi for further action. The platform allows authorities to block the handset’s IMEI number, making it unusable, while also initiating efforts to trace the device and send alerts to RPF personnel.

This joint initiative, focused on DoT RPF mobile tracking, will help significantly reduce cases of mobile theft by cutting off resale opportunities for stolen phones and improving chances of recovery.

To ensure successful rollout and coordination, a training session was recently conducted for over 250 RPF officers from 17 Indian Railways divisions, with participation from DoT’s Licensed Service Area (LSA) teams. Officers were trained on the features of the Sanchar Saathi portal, including how to assist citizens and take prompt action in mobile theft cases. They were also briefed on advanced mobile phone theft recovery tools and protocols to ensure seamless execution across their jurisdictions.

This joint effort marks a milestone in India's digital public infrastructure, offering a fast and secure way to recover stolen mobiles in India while strengthening coordination between telecom and law enforcement bodies. As the initiative expands, it is expected to create a deterrent effect on mobile theft and empower passengers with tools to protect their digital identities.