Latest news with #RailYatriParishad
Time of India
27-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
At 922, railway fatalities drop marginally in 1st 5 mths of '25
1 2 Mumbai: Fatalities on Railways in Mumbai caused due to various factors dipped marginally from 1,003 in Jan-May 2024 to 922 in Jan-May 2025, police data has shown. A majority of the deaths in the first five months of this year were caused by track crossing (461) and falls from crowded trains (210), which are both preventable factors. Railways said they have attempted to prevent track crossing by identifying critical 'black spots', removing ramps at the end of platforms and constructing boundary walls. According to police data, Thane section had the highest number of deaths from track crossing (75), while Kalyan section had most fatalities from falling off locals (50) so far this year. Activist Subhash Gupta of the Rail Yatri Parishad said that to prevent accidents from track crossing, foot overbridges must be constructed at locations where demand from commuters is high. On June 9, five people were killed and eight were left injured after falling off two fast suburban trains on opposite tracks near Mumbra. An internal investigation was started by Central Railway to look into the reasons. Activists highlighted that the approval of large scale housing projects in the distant suburbs has not been accompanied by development of alternative modes of transport. As a result, the residents depend completely on the railway network. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Owning A Villa In Dubai Might Not Be As Costly As You Think Villas Dubai | Search Ads Undo "Closed-door locals are essential for commuter safety but it is not possible on existing services. Air-conditioned locals have automatic doors but their fares are unaffordable for the common man. So, non-AC locals that arrive on the platform after AC locals are packed beyond capacity. Commuters are forced to travel on the footboard to avoid delays at work," said Gupta. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Police data also showed an uptick in suicides from 38 incidents to 46 incidents in the first five months of this year. "India is in a chronic disaster state where helplessness, alienation, loneliness and disconnection are prominent symptoms. Mumbai is no exception. Dying under a train is a sign of serious distress. The administration has done little to make travel easy for Mumbaikars to unburden the stress," said psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty. He added that there is an urgent need to screen families door-to-door. Among overall fatalities, deaths from natural causes such as illnesses were also high with 190 such instances being reported between Jan-May this year.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Time of India
Central Railway locals serve 26 lakh passengers daily; 11 lakh on just Thane-Karjat/Kasara stretch
Mumbai: Of the 26 lakh passengers who travel daily on the Central Railway (CR) Main line, nearly 11 lakh travel between Thane and Karjat or Kasara, highlighting the mounting burden on the suburban stretch. Kaustubh Shinde, an HR professional, said the chaos during rush hour was unbelievable on the CR. "I often can't get off at Mulund as bulky commuters with large backpacks block the exit. Not even a mouse could squeeze through. It's frustrating," he said. The CR has ramped up daily services to 894 from 803 in 2014. Nearly 70% of these—182 in the morning and 188 in the evening—run during peak hours. The frequency up to Kalyan has been increased to a train every three minutes. Transport experts say this may not be enough. Ashok Datar of the Mumbai Mobility Forum said the govt must enforce staggered work timings across private and public sectors to ease the pressure. "Even if 40% of office-goers travel at staggered hours, it can bring visible relief. We can consider shifts like 8.30 am–3.30 pm and 11.30 am–7.30 pm, with only 20% employees on the traditional general shift," he said, adding that essential services like hospitals and police should be exempt from this arrangement. Transport expert Vivek Pati said the train incident on Monday was a reminder that urgent structural reforms were needed. "The Thane-Kalyan stretch has the highest commuter density, and unless we address it with more tracks, cheaper AC train options and better frequency, such incidents will keep repeating. Mixed land use and staggered office hours are a necessity, not a luxury," Pati said. Rail Yatri Parishad chairman Subhash Gupta blamed the overcrowding on the gradual phasing out of non-AC trains. "AC locals during peak hours end up increasing crowd build-up for the next non-AC train," he said. "People risk their lives, hanging by the doors. Most commuters from distant suburbs earn modest salaries. A Rs 5,000, the AC season pass is unaffordable for many. With Metro connectivity improving and those systems already air-conditioned, there is no rush to convert all locals into AC ones." Gupta dismissed the idea of automatic door closures on ordinary locals. "It's been discussed for years but isn't practical. Doors take time to open and close and will delay overall services," he said.
