Mumbai’s local trains claimed 406 lives, injured 871 from January to July 2018

Mumbai’s local train is considered to be the lifeline for Mumbaikars, but it also takes people’s lives ruthlessly. According to a report, in 2018 from January to July, Mumbai’s Local trains have already killed 406 people, and injured 871.

According to the Government Railway Police (GDP) 406 people died of Mumbai’s crowded local trains, and 871 people were  severely injured. If we take a look at data released by GRP, on an average two commuters fall to death everyday in Mumbai and four commuters suffer from grievous injuries.

In the same span of time last year, 460 people died of falling off Mumbai’s local trains and 654 people died throughout the year. What is the reason behind this rising death in Mumbai? In 2011, a recommendation was made for Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation Limited (MRVC) to decongest suburban trains, but it has not been adequately implemented.

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The study recommended measures, such as introduction of 12- and 15-car rakes, cab signalling and a Communication Based Train Control (CBDT) to achieve a two-minute headway for Western Railway (WR) and Central Railway (CR). The only measure adopted since is the adoption of 12- and 15-car rakes.

But, this is not enough to resolve the issue as the number of commuters using suburban local trains have been increased from 6.5 million to 8 million. However, a 12-car rake that was originally designed for 2,160 passengers now carries 5,500 passengers.

According to the some expert, there is no doubt the number of train services have been increased from 1,308 to 1,770 on Central Railway and 1,127 to 1,542 on Western Railway in the same period but these services and populations has not been proportionate. They also blamed the authority of cancelling trains without any prior information. The percentage of cancellation of trains have reportedly risen from 0.1 per cent to 4 per cent in the last 15 years.

Anoop Shukla, senior divisional security commissioner (DSC ), Railway Protection Force (RPF), said, “There are infrastructure problems leading to overcrowding in local trains, which is a serious issue and can only be solved by increasing train services.”

A senior railway official, however, said the possibility of running extra services is questionable as they cannot increase existing load and risk development of cracks on the tracks. “We have been doing everything it takes to solve the problem and overusing the tracks,” said the official.

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