India's federal government has asked local governments in states to take proactive measures to curb thefts in the passenger trains across the country, officials said Friday.

According to officials, the Indian Home Ministry said it was necessary that complaints made by railway passengers for criminal offences should be duly registered and properly investigated by Railway Police to recover property and ensure punishment to culprits.

"The ministry directive says proactive registration of cases in such criminal offences and their proper investigation will act as a deterrent for criminals indulging in crime against railway passengers," an official said.

The step has been taken in view of the large number of thefts taking places insides trains in India.

The registration of cases and thorough probe into the incidents will also increase chances of recovery of stolen property, besides raising the satisfaction level of railway passengers, the official said.

India's sprawling railways is the world's third largest network, carrying around 23 million people each day.