New Delhi: Overcrowded and often unsafe travel in Mumbai’s suburban trains will now be smoother, secure and passenger-friendly. The Modi government is making all-out efforts to streamline operations of Mumbai’s lifeline: the local trains which carry over 80 lakh commuters every day.
As per the government’s mega plans for suburban railways, platforms would be extended to add more coaches in trains(from existing 12 to 16 bogies) and hi-technology signal system would be introduced to increase frequencies of the suburban trains. For recurring ‘trespassing deaths’ on the tracks, 99.60 km of periphery walls have been erected along the railway lines and local stations. Efforts are on to add more foot overbridges and escalators at stations identified as ones where accidental deaths are more likely to occur.
In an interview to IANS, Director General Railway Protection Force(RPF) Arun Kumar said that the Railways have been more concerned about accidental deaths resulting from trespassing, hitting electric poles and slipping between gaps in platforms and coaches.
“Fifty-two vulnerable points at different railway stations in Mumbai were identified by us where frequent accidents have been occurring. The major cause of accidental deaths was trespassing on tracks. (IANS)