Latest news with #SasikanthSenthil
Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Big boost for Mumbai local train services: 12 rail projects worth over Rs 16,200 crore sanctioned
Mumbai Suburban Railway: Good news for Mumbaikars! Indian Railways (IR) has undertaken multiple projects worth over Rs 16,200 crore to improve the infrastructure in Mumbai suburban network. Once completed, these rail projects will further enhance the connectivity and seamless operation of train services in the region. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the government has approved 12 infrastructure projects worth Rs 16,241 crore to further enhance suburban railway services in Maharashtra's capital. The response came following a query raised by Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil. Earlier this year, Vaishnaw emphasized that infrastructure development is the cornerstone for increasing suburban services. He stated that Indian Railways is committed to modernise, improve commuter experience, and enhanced regional connectivity, with a special focus on the Mumbai Suburban Railway Network. These new projects also aims to decongest existing lines, improve service frequency, and cater to the ever-growing demand of Mumbai's suburban commuters. Apart from these, the national transporter is also set to introduce 238 new Air-Conditioned suburban rakes. These new AC local trains will be equipped with automatic doors and will prevent passengers from hanging on footboards or boarding moving trains which is a major cause of fatal accidents. 'The introduction of AC local trains equipped with automatic doors in Mumbai has been a welcome initiative to enhance commuters' safety and reduce incidents related to overcrowding. The automatic doors prevent passengers from hanging on footboards or boarding moving trains which is a major cause of fatal accidents. These doors remain closed while the train is in motion and open only at stations when the train is stationary, thereby significantly reducing the risk of falls,' the Railway Minister said.
News18
23-07-2025
- General
- News18
Mumbai Saw Over 60% Of 2,282 Suburban Railway Deaths In 2024: Railway Ministry
Last Updated: Mumbai accounted for 1,408 fatalities, followed by Thane (615), Navi Mumbai (131), and Raigad (128), according to the Railway Ministry's data While the suburban railway network saw 2,282 deaths in 2024, 60% of them were reported in Mumbai, the Railway Ministry informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The causes ranged from trespassing, pole hitting, falling from running trains, falling in platform gaps. Mumbai accounted for 1,408 fatalities, followed by Thane (615), Navi Mumbai (131), and Raigad (128), according to the data. 'As per information received from the Government Railway Police, 2,282 fatalities were reported on Mumbai's Suburban Railway network in 2024 due to various reasons such as trespassing, pole hitting, falling from running trains, falling in platform gap etc," the Ministry said. The Mumbra incident The issue of deaths on local trains resurfaced last month when eight passengers fell off two trains near Mumbra station, resulting in five fatalities. Tiruvallur Lok Sabha MP Sasikanth Senthil had asked the Railway Ministry about the incident. Five major accidents on Mumbai suburban network In a separate reply, the Ministry said that total five consequential train accidents of suburban trains took place in the Mumbai Suburban Network over Central Railway and Western Railway from 2020-21, all on Central Zone and none Western. 'In these accidents, no fatality or injury took place," the Ministry added. The causes of these accidents broadly include track defects, loco/coach defects, equipment failures, and human errors. 'Accident victims are paid ex-gratia relief soon after an accident or untoward incident. Total amount of ex-gratia paid by the Railways to the next of kin of deceased and injured individuals in untoward incidents in Mumbai Suburban Railway Network during the period 2020-21 to 2024-25 is Rs 34.55 Lakh," the Ministry said. Total amount of compensation paid by the Railways, over and above the ex-gratia amount, to the next of kin of deceased in untoward incidents in Mumbai Suburban Railway Network during the period 2020-21 to 2024-25 is Rs 216.87 crore. 'It may be noted that the compensation paid in a year need not necessarily relate to the accidents/casualties in that year alone. The amount paid in a year depends upon the number of cases finalised by Railway Claims Tribunals (RCTs) or other Courts of Law in a particular year irrespective of the year(s) in which the accident they pertain to, have occurred," the Ministry explained. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
2,282 fatalities reported on Mumbai's suburban railway network in 2024: Railway Minister Vaishnaw
Mr. Vaishnaw's written reply was in response to the issue of commuters' safety on Mumbai suburban trains raised by Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil. A total of 2,282 fatalities were reported on Mumbai's suburban railway network in 2024 due to trespassing, pole hitting, falling from running trains and in platform gaps and other reasons, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Lok Sabha on Wednesday (July 23, 2025). Mr. Vaishnaw's written reply was in response to the issue of commuters' safety on Mumbai suburban trains raised by Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil. The Minister said that 'police' and 'public order' are state subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution and therefore, state governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration, and investigation of crime and maintenance of law and order on Railways through their law enforcement agencies, viz. Government Railway Police (GRP)/district police. "Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP/ district police to provide better protection and security to railway property, passenger area and passengers and for matters connected therewith," he said. He added, "As per information received from GRP, 2,282 fatalities were reported on Mumbai's suburban railway network in 2024 due to various reasons such as trespassing, pole hitting, falling from running trains, falling in platform gap etc." Giving the district-wise fatalities in the suburban railway network, Mr. Vaishnaw said that while Mumbai reported 1408 fatalities, Thane recorded 615 such cases. He added that Raigarh and Navi Mumbai registered 128 and 131 cases of fatalities respectively. Talking about the recent train incident in Mumbai suburban, Mr. Vaishnaw said a committee has been constituted to investigate the cause of the incident near Mumbra station. He also highlighted passenger safety initiatives and said that the introduction of AC local trains equipped with automatic doors in Mumbai has been a welcome initiative to enhance commuters' safety and reduce incidents related to overcrowding. "The automatic doors prevent passengers from hanging on footboards or boarding moving trains which is a major cause of fatal accidents. These doors remain closed while the train is in motion and open only at stations when the train is stationary, thereby significantly reducing the risk of falls," Mr. Vaishnaw said. "Increase in frequency of the train services including suburban train services is an ongoing process over Indian Railways subject to operational feasibility, traffic justification and availability of resources etc," Union Miniter Vishnaw added.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Israeli film fest postponed; ‘nothing political about it'
Chennai: Owing to protests over Israel's attack on Palestine, the Israeli Film Festival organized by the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF), which was scheduled to be held from May 29 to 31 at the Tagore Film Centre in RA Puram, has been postponed indefinitely. Organizers say cultural centres have been hesitant, as human rights activists and writers have been expressing concerns over having such an event during a time of war. Writers' groups, politicians, and activists called the move politically insensitive and requested state govt to cancel the fest. Sasikanth Senthil, MP and member of Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers' Artists' Association (TNPWAA) posted a poster of the festival announcement on his X handle and said, "As someone who deeply believes in the power of art to build bridges, I rarely call for cultural cancellations. But there are moments in history when silence or neutrality risks being complicit." He says this event could be perceived as a "tacit endorsement or at the very least, indifference to the suffering of a besieged population". "This is not a rejection of art," says Senthil, but a call to "be mindful of context, timing, and the moral message we send as a society". "This festival has nothing to do with politics; it's all about films," says Emanadar Thangaraj, ICAF's director of administration. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keventer One: Offices built for you Keventer ONE Undo "The Israel and Palestine war has nothing to do with India. Why should that stop us from consuming the art they make? We've been organizing such events for the past 20 years, and the purpose of such events has been to expose film lovers to films around the world. I don't understand why people are making this political. " TNPWAA state president Madhukoor Ramalingam, says the association believes films are the most important medium of communication to address the masses on important topics and issues. "One of the ways we can condemn what Israel is doing is by not promoting art that comes from a place that bombs innocents." A source close to ICAF says that although external factors pushed for the festival to be postponed, "internal politics has escalated the issue". Despite resistance, ICAF is still planning to hold the festival wherever possible. "We will organize this at a centre that will allow screenings to take place. No change of plans," says Thangaraj.
