Central Railway to raise platform heights, build boundary walls by 2017

Representational picture

The Central Railway, on Thursday has proposed to raise height of 108 platforms to be raised in 2017 in the forthcoming budget.

Senior railway officials said that a proposal has already been made to raise the height of these platforms along the Mumbai CST-Kalyan/ Karjat/ Panvel suburban route. So far height of 152 platforms has been raised to 900 mm and work on 10 platforms is already in progress. The city zone has a total 273 platforms.

According to a report in TOI, MP Kirit Somaiya met CR divisional railway manager Ravindra Goyal on Thursday to discuss issues pertaining to passenger safety and to prevent cases of trespassing and deaths on tracks. Following this meeting, Goyal said that 29 vulnerable spots have been identified where trespassing deaths have been reportedly regularly. Seven such spots will be monitored by the Railway Protection Force while the remaining will be monitored by the GRP and the city police teams.

Along with height of the platforms, the boundary walls will also be constructed in 43 places to ensure that there is no trespassing on tracks. While 13 of these boundary walls have been completed, the remaining 30 will come up next year, it is learnt.

Said Somaiya, "At 38 vulnerable spots, there is need for an underpass or a foot over bridge. I was assured by the DRM that the plan and funds will be prepared in the next three months."

A few weeks back, the CR sanctioned construction of 28 foot overbridges (FoBs) and revamping of eight in the suburban section. Sources said trespassing accounted for nearly 60% deaths or injuries to local train passengers. Railway officials have now co-ordinated with civic bodies for construction of bridges in mid-sections.