The first meeting of the Accident Committee instituted by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday indicated the need for prompt safety measures in suburban trains
The first meeting of the Accident Committee instituted by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday indicated the need for prompt safety measures in suburban trains.
Also read: Crush hour - 410 suffocated to death in local trains this year
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The new committee follows last week’s shocking video of 21-year-old Bhavesh Nakate, who fell to his death on November 27 after struggling to find a foothold in a jam-packed CST-bound train.
The meeting, held at the Western Railway head office in Churchgate, revealed that existing committees, such as the Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC), have proved ineffective.
Within the next one month, this 10-member accident committee — looking after problems on Western Railway that routes from Churchgate to Dahanu — is expected to come up with long and short-term measures.
Sources said the most important point raised was that the BMC, Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation, Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation, and MMRDA should bear the financial burden of small railway projects including raising platform height and building footover bridges since it’s the Railways’ responsibility to provide mass public transport.
Also read: Death due to overcrowding - Central Railway passengers want more trains
Ticket sales indicate the spiraling rise in number of commuters between Virar and Andheri thanks to the growth of commercial complexes in this belt. A suggestion to run shuttle services between the two stations to control over-crowding from Churchgate was offered.
Public involvement
Suggestions have been invited on an email ID where people can share their views on desired improvements (suggestionswr@gmail.com). These will be discussed in the Committee’s next meeting.
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