#Raildrishti #Railfanning
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GRANT OF PERMISSION FOR STILL/ VIDEO PHOTOGRAPHY
IN RAILWAY PREMISES /TRAINS
1. PRIOR CLEARANCE FROM THE M/o EXTERNAL AFFARIRS
1.1...
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Professional foreign journalists (not based in India and not having accreditation
from the Government of India), are required to approach the External Publicity
Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for obtaining clearance
before seeking permission for still/video photography (for news/features to be
published/telecast outside India).
1.2 However, foreign journalists who are based in India and have accreditation
from the Government of India do not require such clearance.
1.3 Foreign nationals, visiting India as tourists, etc, also do not require such
clearance for undertaking still/video photography for personal and non-
commercial use.
2. SECURITY CLEARANCE OF LOCATIONS
2.1 The locations for still/video photography indicated by the applicants (and cleared
by the MEA wherever necessary) are generally considered for grant of permission
subject to the security clearance in accordance with the guidelines issued by the
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) from time to time and circulated to the
Railways/Units by the Security Directorate of the Ministry of Railways.
2.2 In respect of the requests of foreign nationals, security clearance shall be granted
by the Security Directorate of the Ministry of Railways and in respect of the
requests from Indian nationals such clearance shall be granted by the Security
Departments of the respective Railways/Units.
3. WHOM TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS
3.1 The requests of the foreign nationals (along with the clearance wherever
necessary), seeking permission for still/video photography in Railway premises/
trains, are required to be submitted (either directly by the applicants themselves or
through their authorized representatives in India) to the Director Information &
Publicity, Public Relations Directorate, Ministry of Railways.
.3.2 The requests of the Indian nationals seeking permission for still/video
photography in Railway premises/ trains are required to be submitted to the Chief
Public Relations Officers of the respective Railways/Units depending upon the
locations for which permission is sought.
3.3 In both the above cases, the persons/ parties seeking such permission should
clearly specify the locations to be covered, the likely date(s) of coverage and the
purpose for undertaking still/video photography.
4. GRANT OF PERMISSION
4.1 Permission for still/ video photography to Indian nationals shall be granted by
the Chief Public Relations Officers of the respective Railways/Units.
4.2 Permission for still/ video photography to the foreign nationals shall be granted
by the Public Relations Directorate, Railway Board. However, if still/ video
photography is to be undertaken for commercial purposes, approval (in
principle) will be conveyed to the concerned Railways/Units advising them to
grant permission after completing necessary formalities and charging the
prescribed licence fee.
4.3 The permission letter, indicating the conditions mentioned in para-4.5 to 4.7
and 5.7 (wherever applicable), shall be issued by the Public Relations Directorate
Railway Board or the CPROs of the Railways/Units (as the case may be) directly
to the individual applicants (or their representatives) endorsing a copy thereof to
the Security Department also.
4.4 In respect of foreign nationals, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) shall also be kept
informed by endorsing a copy of the permission letter to the Deputy Director/IB,
Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block, New Delhi.
4.5 The permission letter issued under para-4.3 is to be treated as authority enabling
the applicants to take still/ video photographs in railway premises/trains till the
validity period indicated therein. The rules/ procedure (if any) regulating entry
into a particular railway premises, train, etc will have to be followed
meticulously. It is clarified that the permission letter, allowing still/video
photography, is neither a travel authority nor does it ipso-facto authorize the
holder to enter any railway premises/train.
4.6 The holder of the permission letter is required to give prior information to the
Station Manager/In-charge of the concerned stations/premises before undertaking
still/video photography. He has to observe safety and security regulations in
vogue on the Railways and ensure that still/video photography is confined to
railway premises/trains only; it does not affect normal working of the Railways; i
.does not cause inconvenience to other rail users; and it does not cover places
prohibited for still/video photography by the Railways
4.7 The holder of the permission letter should disclose his/her identity and show the
permission letter to the railway officials on demand. In addition, the foreign
nationals should have valid Passport/Visa while visiting various locations and
they shall be under an obligation to show the same on demand by the local
railway authorities.
5. LICENCE FEE
5.1 Railways/Units may fix the licence fee for still photography for commercial
purpose in consultation with their Associate Finance.
5.2 Licence fee for video photography shall be the same as that applicable for film
shooting (indicated in para-8 of Chapter-III).
5.3 While granting permission for still photography for commercial purposes,
Railways/Units may levy the licence fee fixed by them for the purpose.
5.4 However, if the video photography is to be undertaken for professional or
commercial purposes, permission is to be granted following the guidelines
pertaining to film shooting (mentioned in para-11.2 ( iv) of Chapter-III).
5.5 However, no licence fee need be levied for still photography to be undertaken by
the tourists, rail enthusiasts, etc for personal and non-commercial use and
professional journalists (Indian or foreign) for news features on Railways.
5.6 Similarly, no licence fee need be levied for video photography (without
requiring any railway rolling stocks or special facilities) to be undertaken by the
tourists, rail enthusiasts, etc (without using a professional video camera, tripods,
lights, etc) exclusively for personal and non-commercial use and professional
journalists (Indian or foreign) for news features on Railways.
5.7 In the above two cases (para-5.5 and 5.6), a written undertaking should be
taken from the parties to the effect that any commercial use of the shots taken
shall be unlawful and that they will fully indemnify the Railways in the event of
any such use and also for any other loss/ damage caused to the Railways. A
mention to this effect may be made in the permission letter also.
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(AUTHORITY: BOARD’S LETTER NO. 2006/PR/10/31 DATED 01.06.2007)