After identifying 14 stretches across the Mumbai suburban network where maximum accidents take place, the Railway budget has allocated Rs 400 crore to take measures to prevent people from crossing tracks
The lifeline of Mumbai — local trains — are also responsible for the deaths of at least 10 people every day. Now, the railways have finally identified the stretches where maximum accidents occur, on both the Central and Western lines. In addition to that, they have allotted funds for creating measures to prevent trespassing on tracks, thereby preventing accidents.
In 2014, 185 deaths occurred in the Dombivli division of CR. file pic
A railway official told
sunday mid-day on condition of anonymity, “The cost of implementing this project is R400 crore, but it might come close to R520 crore by the time it gets completed.”
Officials said that as per a recent study, they have identified 14 stretches throughout the Mumbai rail network, where maximum number of accidents occur. There are seven locations on the main line of
Central Railway
(CR), three locations on the harbour line of CR and four locations on the Western Railway (WR).
Danger ahead
On the central line, these locations are at Nahur-Mulund, Mulund-Thane, Thane-Kopar, Kopar-Kalwa, Kalwa, Mumbra, Mumbra-Diva and Diva-Dombivli. On the Harbour line, these stretches are between Wadala-GTB Nagar, Govandi-Mankhurd and Vashi-Sanpada stations. The prominent locations on Western line are between Mahim-Matunga Road, Bandra-Khar, Vile Parle-Andheri and Jogeshwari- Goregaon stations.
According to the statistics available with the Government Railway Police (GRP), in the year 2014, there were 427 deaths in Kurla division, 348 deaths in Thane division, 185 deaths in Dombivli division of Main line on CR. Similarly, on the Harbour line, the Wadala division saw 197 deaths and Vashi saw 210 deaths in the same year. Meanwhile on WR, Bandra division saw 114 deaths, Andheri division saw 143 deaths and Borivli division recorded 307 deaths.
Taking measures
The rail authorities are working on a trespass control project, as part of Mumbai Urban Transport Project phase-3, to dissuade people from crossing tracks. Sources said that these will include erecting tall concrete cement walls along the tracks, fencing and creating partition between two rail lines, more foot-over bridges, creating green patches and flower nurseries on larger areas between two stations and removing stairs from end of platforms.
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