The problem of commuters of local trains blocking the entrance/exit resulted in a violent incident on Tuesday at Diva station on Central Railway. Two passengers were standing on the footboard preventing commuters from both deboarding and entering the Karjat-bound train at around 7.10 p.m.
The duo was pulled down to the platform where a mob beat them up severely in yet another case of rail rage. The Railway Protection Force rushed to the scene and rescued the two victims, but the latter refused to file an FIR.
Asked about the incidence, Subhash Gupta, a passengers activist said, "Blocking door is very common problem in Mumbai local and action against door blockers and foot board travellers are being taken regularly by the RPF, but moral policing is not good."
Common problem on Mumbai locals
Door blocking was a very common problem of local commuters of the city in pre covid era. That time number of on average daily local passengers on CR was 44 lakh. Before pandemic special teams were formed by the both zonal railways to take action against habitual offenders . During Covid due to travel restrictions number of passengers was gone down, hence this problem was resolved automatically. Now travel is fully open for all and number of daily local passengers on Central Railway also reached up to 40 lakh, hence crowd in trains increased.
According to a senior officials many railway passengers boarded trains at Ambernath, Titwala and Kalyan station in morning and CSMT, Byculla in evening but refusing to move in, even though their destination station was far off. This way they (passengers) blocked the entry of other passengers at other stations.
Special drive against door blockers
However when contacted Rajneesh Goyal, Divisional railway manager of central railways Mumbai division, he said, "We already instructed to the RPF for launching a special drive against door blocker / foot board trevellers."
Travelling on the footboard is an offence under the section 156 of Railway Act . " If any one caught traveling on footboard or blocking the door shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both " said a senior officer of CR.
Asked about the praposed special drive against foot board travellers, he said, "Under this drive teams of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel will be deployed in crowded local trains (in civil clothes) as well as stations to identify those standing on footboards and blocking entry and exit of other passengers.
