Mumbai railway passengers propose 'Pink Platforms' for safer, easier boarding by women

Representation pic/Satej Shinde

Imagine walking onto a railway platform and instantly knowing exactly where the ladies' coach will stop, with a clearly marked space reserved for women to wait safely and comfortably. That's the idea behind the 'Pink Platform' concept proposed by the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh.

An informal proposal suggested by passenger associations to create 'Pink Platforms' - designated waiting zones for women at suburban railway stations - was discussed at the first Suburban Railway Users' Consultative Committee (SRUCC) meeting held at Central Railway headquarters in Mumbai CSMT on July 24.

The proposal suggests painting the section of platforms where ladies' coaches halt in pink, creating clearly marked waiting areas for women commuters. The organisation says the idea could make boarding more orderly, improve safety and help first-time commuters identify ladies' coaches more easily. Railway officials, however, pointed out that differences in train configurations could make implementation challenging and said the proposal would need a detailed feasibility study before any decision is taken.

What is a Pink Platform?

>> Painting the platform area where ladies' coaches stop in pink
>> Creating dedicated waiting zones for women
>> Helping commuters locate ladies' coaches quickly
>> Supporting easier deployment of security personnel
>> Improving surveillance through focused CCTV coverage

Railways' response

On Pink Platforms
Railway officials said the proposal could be examined through a pilot feasibility study.

On implementation
A senior railway official said: "While the idea is good, practically, it will be difficult to implement as ladies' coaches are spread across the train. There are 12-car, 15-car and AC locals, all of which have different coach configurations. It is an idea that needs to be studied carefully before any public use."

Another proposal: Redesign ladies' coaches

The commuter body also urged redesigning ladies' coaches using ergonomic standards for Indian women.

Siddhesh Desai, vice-president, Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh
"A ladies' coach should be designed for women, not simply reserved for women. Studies have highlighted that grab handles, luggage racks and other fittings are positioned too high, making them difficult to use."

Official Speak
Siddhesh Desai, vice-president, Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh

"Among the many proposals discussed, an important commuter-centric idea was the rationalisation of Ladies and Divyang coaches, which proposed studying the feasibility of grouping all Ladies and Divyang coaches together with a dedicated ‘Pink Platform' boarding zone. The Pink Platform concept will help commuters visually distinguish between compartments. Such an arrangement could facilitate better deployment of the Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police, improve CCTV monitoring, enhance emergency response and provide greater safety and convenience."

Voices

Lata Argade, Mumbai Suburban Railway Passengers' Federation
"This is a very good and well-thought-out proposal. It has the potential to significantly improve passenger safety while also making travel more convenient and comfortable for women commuters."

Isha Khatu, commuter
"It is a great initiative, but I'm not sure how practical it is because 12-car, 15-car and AC trains have different coach positions. But, it will be useful for women who are new to the city."

Vandana Sonawane, commuter
"It is a good proposal but the Railways must ensure police presence inside ladies' compartments continues."