Directions issued to increase height of all platforms by the end of 2016, install automatic door-closing mechanism in coaches and increase no. of 15-coach trains
Mumbai : In the wake of rising cases of railway accidental deaths, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu has given directions to increase the height of platforms by the end of 2016 and install automatic door-closing system in coaches on experimental basis.
The decision follows yet another shocking incident of the death of a commuter after falling from a rush-hour local train on Tuesday morning. This is the second incident in two days, thus shedding light on the unsafe journey in fully-packed trains during peak hours.
After the death of 21-year-old Bhavesh Nakate from Dombivli, 32-year-old Naresh Patil, who was travelling from Khopoli to Thane, fell between Kalva and Thane railway tracks after his hand slipped from the steel pole at the door. Owing to huge crowd in the compartment, Patil was standing at the footboard.
He was rushed to Thane’s emergency medical room, where he was declared dead on arrival.
The members of parliament in a meeting with the Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday afternoon raised their demands regarding the safety of passengers in local trains. The meeting of MPs of Mumbai-Thane region with the minister was conducted at Rail Bhawan in Delhi on Tuesday afternoon.
The demands raised by the MPs included increase in the height of the platforms and automatic door closure system for the safety of passengers on trains in the suburban railway. The work on increasing the number of trains in the fifth and sixth line should be finished soon, demanded MP Shrikant Shinde. Further, they demanded that the steel pole at the train doors should have rubber grips and each station should have emergency medical facilities.
Following the meeting, immediate steps have been introduced to strengthen and improve the services of Mumbai local trains. Fencing work between platforms at all stations will be undertaken and the number of 15-coach trains will be maximised. A committee appointed to work on Railway safety will give report in one month. The meeting was attended by MPs Kirit Somaiya, Gopal Shetty, Rahul Shevale, Shrikant Shinde, Arvind Sawant, Kapil Patil, Vinayak Raut and Shrirang Varne.
