Jan 10 2016 : Mirror (Mumbai)
Late-running services to blame for commuter deaths, finds WR panel
Kamal Mishra TWEETS @KMMIRROR
|
Report calls for comprehensive reforms, doesn't let passengers off the hook either
A Western Railway panel has concluded that a delay in services is a major cause of overcrowding in trains, which is leading to more people dying on the tracks.Mirror has obtained an exclusive copy of this report--the committee comprised members of parliament, railway activists, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta, Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation director RS Khurana, and other senior railway officers, including the additional general manager and the Chief Public Relation Officer of Western Railway.
The report points out that Western Railway runs fewer trains run during the evening rush hour as compared to the morning rush hour, even though the evening peak sees more overcrowding. 134 services are run during the morning peak hours and only 124 during the evening. 9.3% of passengers use these services between 6 and 7 pm. A few committee members also blamed the Western Railway's timetables. This included MP Gopal Shetty, who said the train timings should be `rationalized.' The report recommended the completion of the missing link between Mahim and Santa Cruz on the 5th line, asking for it to be finished at the earliest. This would allow some mail and express trains to be diverted, freeing up space for local trains.
The report also recommended segregation of the suburban traffic from the main line, stating that the local trains should get their own corridor and at least four lines should be earmarked exclusively for them.Reduction of the inter signal distance between Borivali and Virar would also reduce headway and increase track capacity.
Both the Western and Central Railway had set up high-level committees to study the root cause of death on the tracks, on the orders of Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu.This after the video of techie Ganesh Nakate falling to death off a train went viral.
According to the report, two-hundred and forty five people died falling off trains in 2015 (till November). This is the second biggest contributor to deaths on the tracks and accounts for 20% of the total number of railway deaths. A large number of deaths occurred between Jogeshwari and Borivali and Vasai and Vaitarna. It was determined that a detailed safety audit for these areas be carried out.
The report also made several other recommendations for Western Railway. One was to make 50% of its trains 15-coaches. As of now, only two out of eighty-four rakes have 15 coaches. Another was for the government to adopt staggered timings for offices and the stock market to break up the flow of passengers. The committee also advised modification of the poles in the new Siemens rakes to facilitate a firmer grip after members of the public complained that they were unable to hold onto the smooth surfaces of the poles.End to end fencing of station premises and providing subways at every 500 metres to allow the quick discharge of passengers were also advocated. Automatic closing doors for non-AC EMUs were also suggested. The report counselled Western Railway to raise the height of track dividers to discourage young travellers from crossing the tracks.
The report also blamed the difference in platform height and the floor level of the trains. It didn't spare commuters either--saying they board and alight when the train is moving and avoid using the foot-overbridges and subways. It said that such intuitive passenger behaviours should be discouraged through the use of posters, sensitization campaigns and counselling of passengers by ticket checking staff and RPF and GRP personnel.
The Central Railway report may be submitted before 20th January, according to a senior CR officer. That report seems to be focusing on cab signalling on the harbour and trans-harbour line and the slow main line corridor.
The report points out that Western Railway runs fewer trains run during the evening rush hour as compared to the morning rush hour, even though the evening peak sees more overcrowding. 134 services are run during the morning peak hours and only 124 during the evening. 9.3% of passengers use these services between 6 and 7 pm. A few committee members also blamed the Western Railway's timetables. This included MP Gopal Shetty, who said the train timings should be `rationalized.' The report recommended the completion of the missing link between Mahim and Santa Cruz on the 5th line, asking for it to be finished at the earliest. This would allow some mail and express trains to be diverted, freeing up space for local trains.
The report also recommended segregation of the suburban traffic from the main line, stating that the local trains should get their own corridor and at least four lines should be earmarked exclusively for them.Reduction of the inter signal distance between Borivali and Virar would also reduce headway and increase track capacity.
Both the Western and Central Railway had set up high-level committees to study the root cause of death on the tracks, on the orders of Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu.This after the video of techie Ganesh Nakate falling to death off a train went viral.
According to the report, two-hundred and forty five people died falling off trains in 2015 (till November). This is the second biggest contributor to deaths on the tracks and accounts for 20% of the total number of railway deaths. A large number of deaths occurred between Jogeshwari and Borivali and Vasai and Vaitarna. It was determined that a detailed safety audit for these areas be carried out.
The report also made several other recommendations for Western Railway. One was to make 50% of its trains 15-coaches. As of now, only two out of eighty-four rakes have 15 coaches. Another was for the government to adopt staggered timings for offices and the stock market to break up the flow of passengers. The committee also advised modification of the poles in the new Siemens rakes to facilitate a firmer grip after members of the public complained that they were unable to hold onto the smooth surfaces of the poles.End to end fencing of station premises and providing subways at every 500 metres to allow the quick discharge of passengers were also advocated. Automatic closing doors for non-AC EMUs were also suggested. The report counselled Western Railway to raise the height of track dividers to discourage young travellers from crossing the tracks.
The report also blamed the difference in platform height and the floor level of the trains. It didn't spare commuters either--saying they board and alight when the train is moving and avoid using the foot-overbridges and subways. It said that such intuitive passenger behaviours should be discouraged through the use of posters, sensitization campaigns and counselling of passengers by ticket checking staff and RPF and GRP personnel.
The Central Railway report may be submitted before 20th January, according to a senior CR officer. That report seems to be focusing on cab signalling on the harbour and trans-harbour line and the slow main line corridor.
No comments:
Post a Comment