Last evening, commuters at Dadar station didn't just have to push past rush hour crowds, they were also faced by the railway police, who requested that they avoid boarding packed trains
Last evening, commuters at Dadar station didn’t just have to push past the rush hour crowds to find a spot on the train home, they were also faced by the railway police, who requested that they avoid boarding packed trains.
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The RPF made announcements about the dangers of hanging from the doorway of a crowded, running train. Pics/Satej Shinde
But any Mumbaikar can tell you that finding a train that’s not crowded during rush hour is an impossible task. And this is exactly what they told the Railway Police Force (RPF) as well – ‘Aap batao kis train main gardi nahi hai, hum kitne train chhode?’ (You show us a train that’s not crowded. How many trains will we leave?)
During peak hours on Wednesday evening, Dadar station was a sea of people jostling to take the train home
On Friday, the entire city was shocked when a video went viral, showing 21-year-old Bhavesh Nakate struggling to find a foothold in a packed CST-bound train, gradually slipping away and falling to his death on the tracks (‘21-year-old dies after falling from packed rush hour local’, mid-day, November 28).
Read Story: Youth who fell off Mumbai local had not boarded regular train 'that' day
RPF officials also issued warnings to commuters who were blocking the doorway to the coaches. Blocking the entrance is an offence punishable by imprisonment and fine
In a bid to prevent similar mishaps, the Central Railway (CR) and RPF yesterday formed teams to try and discourage commuters from boarding crowded trains. Calling it a sensitisation programme for commuters, the officials will at first take a soft approach to the problem, simply advising passengers to get off the train if there isn’t enough space for them.
Yesterday, the RPF took a soft approach, simply advising people to get off crowded trains and wait for the next one, but very few commuters paid heed to their warnings
If this doesn’t work, they will likely move to phase 2, and take action against those who ignore instructions. mid-day attended one such sensitisation effort at Dadar station during the peak evening hours yesterday, where the RPF was finding it difficult to control the hordes of irritated commuters jostling to board down trains from platforms 1 and 4.
In the peak hours, commuters count themselves lucky even if they find standing room in a train, and many are forced to simply hang from the doorway — exactly how young Bhavesh fell to his death. The news of his demise had shocked Mumbai commuters, so many got off crowded trains without the RPF even having to ask. But the majority of people refused to get off.
Also Read: Death due to overcrowding: Central Railway passengers want more trains
Amid frequent ‘tch-tch’ sounds, some commuters complained that if they had to wait for an uncrowded train, they would never get home. Others merely ignored the cops. An RPF officer said, “We are just trying to sensitize people and are asking them to try to take the next train if possible. But before we can persuade them to get off, the train leaves with them.”
A group of RPF personnel also went on the 12-metre-wide foot over bridge with a megaphone and banner in hand, and began to make announcements about the dangers of catching a moving train, standing on the footboard or hanging from the doorway of a running train. The RPF also identified a few commuters who were deliberately blocking the entrance to the coaches, only allowing their friends to board the train.
“Initially, we shall try to sensitize people. Gradually, if we find people purposely obstructing the entrance or creating nuisance while in a group, then necessary action will be taken,” said an RPF officer, adding that culprits would be charged under the Railways Act (see box).
This programme will continue for a while at four stations where CR and RPF officials will try to change commuter behaviour. In the morning, they will cover the Dombivli and Kalyan stations from 7 am to 10 am, and in the evening, they will patrol platforms at Kurla and Dadar between 6 pm and 9 pm. “There will be 20 personnel placed at each station during peak hours,” said AK Singh, chief security commissioner, CR.
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