13 April,2011 06:46 AM IST | | Vedika Chaubey
Central and Western railways begin levelling work in earnest after MiD DAY reported on injuries and fatalities resulting from uneven gaps between platforms and trains
How many times have youu00a0 failed to jump onto arriving trains because of the great distance dividing trains and platforms?
Railway norms specify that the gap between the platform and the train at railway stations should not exceed 8 inches.
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WR has sanctioned nearly R8 crore to raise the height of platforms in 40 stations. CR has also announced that it will begin work in Dombivli, Thane and Ghatkopar, among others
But MiD DAY's investigation ('Mind the gap', March 24) revealed that a majority of stations have flagrantly flouted these norms.
The fact that this is extremely hazardous for passengers is made amply clear by the fact that two passengers have died, while 15 have sustained injuries because of this over the last year alone (see box).
Spurred into action
Railway authorities have initiated action after MiD DAY's report and are currently working to minimise the gaps.
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"I have been instructed to look into the situation immediately, identify the stations, which have wide gaps, and initiate construction work to minimise them.
We have already begun work at some stations and will ensure that gaps in other stations are rectified as well," said a senior railway official from Central Railway.
Work is being undertaken at Dombivli station, where the gap between the platform and the train was measured at 20 inches. The gaps were measured at 22 inches at Thakurli and Bhandup, and 23 inches at Ghatkopar.
The Western Railway, too, has begun work to minimise the gaps at stations like Charni Road, Mahim, Borivli, Nallasopara, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivli, Bandra, and Santacruz.
It has also sanctioned nearly Rs 8 crore to raise the height of platforms at 40 stations.
Not to be left behind, the Central Railway will begin to undertake a similar project at Dombivli, Ghatkopar, Bhandup, Kurla, Thane, Mulund, and Ambernath.
"We have been receiving many complaints from passengers about deadly gaps in platforms, especially from elderly and female passengers, who claim that they often fail to board the trains because of these gaps," said an official.
Railway officials attributed this gap between trains to track lifting, which is undertaken for the purpose of maintenance.
They also said that the gaps between trains and platforms crept in when the wooden tracks were replaced with concrete ones.
A K Singh, PRO, Central Railway, said, "The work is already in progress. We will work on other stations too, and ensure that the gaps are narrowed."
Rescued
Mahim, Borivli, Goregaon, Nallasopara, Malad, Bandra, Kandivli and Santacruz, among others, are on Western Railway's radar
