Mumbai: Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that a total of 7,565 passengers have died and 7,293 have been injured in Mumbai suburban railway accidents over the past three years.
Responding to a calling attention motion raised by BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar on the issue of passenger safety in suburban trains, Minister Sarnaik acknowledged the serious concerns and outlined the state’s ongoing and proposed measures to improve safety and reduce congestion.
Alternative Transport and Office Timing Reforms
Sarnaik said that pilot projects like pod taxis, water transport, and air taxis are under review to provide parallel alternatives to suburban railways. Additionally, a task force will soon be set up to explore changes in office working hours in the private sector to reduce peak-hour crowding.
Mumbra Accident Echoes in Assembly
The recent Mumbra railway accident triggered sharp debates in the Assembly. MLA Bhatkhalkar demanded a joint meeting involving the Union Railway Minister, senior railway officials, railway police, and the state government to formulate concrete safety strategies.
Congress leader Nana Patole strongly criticized the government, blaming the “double-engine government’s failed policies” for the Mumbra incident. “Passengers lost their lives due to negligence. What exact plans do you have, and by when will they be implemented?” he asked, demanding urgent and concrete action.
Patole further mocked the idea of air taxis, calling it “imaginary,” and said people are traveling like “ants and insects” in overcrowded local trains.
Sarnaik’s Response and Counterattack
Countering Patole’s remarks, Sarnaik said, “When Metro was introduced, the opposition called it imaginary too. But today, Metro services are running, and thousands of passengers are benefiting.” He added that pod taxi services are already being tested in Vadodara, Gujarat, and are expected to launch within the next couple of months.
He assured the Assembly that Mumbai’s Metro network is being expanded to reduce pressure on local trains and improve passenger safety. The government is also considering installing closed doors in regular local trains as a safety measure.
Minister Sarnaik reiterated the state’s commitment, under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, to making suburban train travel safer and more comfortable for millions of daily commuters.
