Photographs accompanying our report show a long line of commuters using a narrow bridge
A stampede-like crowd builds up at Prabhadevi as commuters use the only busy east-west bridges, while the new south-end bridge remains largely unused. Pics/Shadab Khan
It is not surprising that our report on Prabhadevi station witnessing stampede-like conditions after the shutdown of the Elphinstone Road bridge has elicited an avalanche of responses.
With two of the bridge’s staircases closed for demolition, thousands of commuters are now funnelling onto a narrow foot overbridge to move between the east and west, causing severe crowding during rush hours.
These staircases, used mainly by commuters heading to Parel in the east or Prabhadevi in the west, have forced people to walk northward to reach the two remaining bridges. Sources said this surge should be diverted to the newly constructed south-end bridge to prevent the north-end bridges, which also serve Parel station, from becoming dangerously congested.
Photographs accompanying our report show a long line of commuters using a narrow bridge. This is a potentially dangerous situation, and we must have people diverted to the south end of the bridge. It is good to read that personnel are stationed to guide people. There is signage, too. It will benefit people to follow a less crowded route, so that in case of any emergency, one is safer with a thinner route. People must also accede to RPF and GRP personnel deployed to divert the crowd from the first six coaches toward the two north-end bridges, while commuters from the remaining six coaches are being guided toward the south-end bridge.
The Railways can explore if announcements can be made on platforms to take the less crowded bridges or options available, so that commuters are mentally prepared to move towards the newer bridges. In any case, a good announcement system and some messages to passengers as they alight about not pushing, listening to rumours, and ways in which one can move out need constant reinforcement, so they should be played over the system.
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