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Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
After Mumbra accident, we have put whistle boards to alert motormen, says CR
MUMBAI: Nearly six weeks after five commuters lost their lives falling from overcrowded local trains between Mumbra and Diva stations on June 9, the Central Railway (CR) has finally announced a slew of corrective measures to prevent further fatalities on Mumbai's suburban rail network. Thane, India. June 10, 2025: Local trains cross near section at Mumbra Railway Station, where four commuters lost their lives and nine others were injured on June 9, 2025, in Thane, India. The incident occurred when the commuters fell from a train heading to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Thane India. June 10, 2025. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Hindustan Times) The railway authorities outlined their action plan in an affidavit submitted to the Bombay High Court on Monday, detailing physical upgrades, enforcement strategies, and commuter management interventions to tackle the city's chronic rail safety crisis. Among the key measures: removal of hazardous platform-end ramps, demolition of 1,267 encroachments over the past three years, and plugging 73 known trespass-prone spots. Whistle boards have been installed at track curves to alert motormen, and escalators as well as restored boundary walls now block access to tracks at Diva station—a hotspot where five to six deaths from track crossing were once routine every month. Since these upgrades in August 2023, officials claim zero such deaths at Diva. The affidavit, filed by senior divisional commercial manager Pravindra Wanjari, highlights a broader drop in fatalities. In 2018, 1,022 deaths were recorded from track crossings; this has reduced to 293 so far in 2025. Falling-from-train deaths have also declined from 482 in 2018 to 150 till May this year. Yet, the recent spate of fatal incidents has exposed persisting gaps, forcing the railways to revisit longstanding safety challenges. At Kalyan station, platforms 4 and 5 have been widened after removing old station buildings. Dadar and Thane platforms too have been expanded to manage crowds. Technical interventions include replacing older trains with Siemens rakes, which provide better grip on grab poles and handles, and reducing track speeds between Sion-Kurla and Mulund-Thane stretches to counter sharp curves that increase fall risks. Authorities have also written to nearly 800 offices to adopt staggered work hours to ease peak-hour congestion. Looking ahead, CR has committed to installing 139 more escalators and 62 lifts by December 2027, adding to the 176 escalators and 43 foot overbridges already set up across suburban stations. Enforcement and awareness too form part of the strategy. From punitive action against trespassers to safety drives in schools, RPF deployment at black spots, and continuous public announcements, officials said multiple layers of intervention are being used to push towards a 'zero death mission'. The moves come in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by daily commuter Yatin Jadhav, highlighting the daily hazards faced by the city's 75 lakh-plus local train passengers. A high-level monitoring committee and an additional multidisciplinary panel have been constituted to monitor progress and recommend further interventions.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- The Hindu
Central Railway submits action plan on track safety to Bombay High Court
The Central Railway on Monday submitted before the Bombay High Court that a multi-disciplinary probe into the June 9 Mumbra railway tragedy, in which five commuters died after falling from an overcrowded local train, was under way and the final report was currently under review. The disclosure was made through an affidavit filed by Pravindra Wanjari, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Mumbai Division of Central Railway, in connection with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed in 2024, which sought urgent measures to address fatalities from track crossing and falls on Mumbai's suburban rail network. According to the Railways, preliminary observations from the Mumbra incident pointed to a dangerous combination of 'track curvature' and 'passenger imbalance' caused by the simultaneous passing of two fast local trains. A multi-disciplinary team all based in Mumbai, CSMT, who were constituted to investigate the incident included key officials from divisional heads of respective branches having knowledge in rail safety and operations: Senior Divisional Safety Officer, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Senior Divisional Operations Manager (General), Senior Divisional Engineer (South), and the Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer (Traction Rolling Stock Operations). The officials are conducting a detailed investigation into the accident to find out the actual cause and find a resolution to passenger safety concerns. The report of the committee is under investigation. The affidavit noted that while the Railways was implementing a series of long-term structural upgrades, real-time mitigation continued to be constrained by land acquisition delays, monsoon conditions, and high traffic volume that restricted daytime work. 'Central Railway Suburban system in itself is a complex network. During monsoon, the work gets slowed down, as no digging is done due to safety reasons. Further, the work is to be carried out ensuring the safety of a large volume of traffic. Major work is carried out only during night blocks. Supervisors are simultaneously engaged for regular maintenance works. Land acquisition issues, encroachment issues, public resentment in encroachment removal and boundary wall construction etc., also delay the work. Railway Administration is committed to provide safe and comfortable journey to the commuters, and all sincere efforts are always taken in that regard. The difficulties in execution of works may kindly be appreciated, and it may not kindly be construed as inaction or slow action,' the Railways informed the court. Safety measures The High Court was also informed of several safety initiatives already implemented under the 'Mission Zero Death' campaign. These included fencing at 47 platforms, plugging of 204 trespass-prone openings, removal of over 1,260 encroachments, and installation of warning systems and illusionary posters at high-risk spots. At Diva station, where accidents were frequent, a targeted combination of escalators, barbed wire barriers, platform fencing, and continuous RPF deployment has led to a marked reduction in fatalities, with no reported deaths since August 2023. To address the issue of falls from moving trains, the Railways has undertaken knurling on grab poles, added extra handles in Siemens rakes, and slewed tracks to reduce crowding between major stations like Sion-Kurla and Mulund-Thane. Over 800 establishments have been requested to stagger office timings to ease peak-hour pressure. In the long term, the Railways plans to construct 43 new foot overbridges (FOBs), install 139 escalators and 62 lifts by December 2027, and implement major corridor upgrades, including the Panvel-Karjat and Kalva-Airoli suburban links, and a new Thane station to decongest the central line. Data submitted by the Railways showed that in 2024 alone, 674 people died from track crossing and 387 from falling off trains. In the first five months of 2025, 293 and 150 such deaths had already been recorded, respectively. While affirming its commitment to commuter safety, the Railways urged the court to acknowledge the operational complexities of Mumbai's high-density rail system. 'Delays in work execution should not be construed as inaction. We remain committed to improving passenger safety,' the affidavit stated. The High Court has given two weeks' time to the petitioner to submit suggestions, if any, to the affidavit of the Railways.
