Elphinstone stampede: Multi-agency teams to inspect Mumbai railway stations
As many as 150 officials representing various government agencies will inspect all suburban railway stations on Mumbai's Central and Western Railways lines. The inspections are in line with Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal's announcement of a multi-agency inspection of stations following the tragic stampede on an overcrowded foot-overbridge at Elphinstone Road station that left 23 commuters dead. The inspection is aimed at improving safety.
Which stations will the teams inspect?
"These teams will visit the railway stations during morning and evening peak hours," a senior railway official told DNA. The team will inspect stations on the Western Railway's Churchgate-Virar route, and the Central Railway's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Panvel and CSMT-Kalyan routes. Only select stations on the Kalyan-Karjat/Kasara route, which are also heavily overcrowded, will be inspected.
What each inspection will comprise of?
The team will comprise of four railways officials, one each from commercial, engineering, Railway Police Force and construction. The team will also contain representatives from the Mumbai Police, Government Railway Police, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The local municipal bodies of Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayander, Kalyan-Dombivali and Navi Mumbai will also be represented for relevant stations.
Government to implement solutions based on report findings
Each team will be accompanied by a videographer and will study areas in the station which are prone to being overcrowded, such as entry-exit points and foot-overbridges. The observations would be incorporated into a comprehensive report which will suggest solutions. State Education Minister Vinod Tawde will chair monthly meetings of various government agencies to improve Mumbai's suburban rail infrastructure.
