Keep safety in mind when enhancing amenities

A poorly lit section of platform 1 at Sion railway station. Pic/Ritika Gondhalekar

A poorly lit stretch of platform 1 at Sion railway station has commuters worried about their safety, particularly women travelling in the general and first-class ladies' compartments. The concern has magnified after a woman reportedly lost her gold chain in a chain-snatching incident recently on the same stretch. This poor illumination is linked to the ongoing platform extension work at the station. We are simply taking off using this as a springboard to look at different projects across the city that affect people in different ways.

Construction or ongoing work cannot and should not be an excuse for leaving stretches in darkness or removing lights for the work but not installing them somewhere in the vicinity so there is enough illumination to avert any danger or mishap; crime like this has happened in the above instance.

Even temporary lighting, or whatever is needed, has to be adequate so that it is a good replacement, not a slipshod one, done in name with no real use at all.

Sometimes, there is material lying around, once again with the excuse that some work is on. Poles, stones, tiles, wood, and even work equipment are lying around close to the site, and people are in danger of slipping or tripping on them, cutting themselves, or even breaking a limb if the fall is bad. At times, wires are seen dangling overhead as work is ongoing, and these are literally touching people's heads.

Every public space needs bright light and material stowed away properly so it is not hazardous to persons traversing the stretch. Let us see safety when enhancing/expanding amenities.