CR, WR likely to be 18 FOBs short this rainy season
An overcrowded Jogeshwari railway station foot over-bridge (PHOTO BY NILESH WAIRKAR)
Some of the worst affected stations because of this will be – Andheri, Bandra, Borivali, Virar and Jogeshwari on WR; and Kurla, Dadar, Bhandup, Dombivali, Kalyan, Wadala and Ghatkopar on CR.
With Elphinstone stampede still fresh in memory and at least 18foot-overbridges (FOBs) are likely to be shut when rains arrive in Mumbai in a few months’ time, both the Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) have prepared a three-layer security plan for the worst affected stations.
Despite CR and WR engineers’ best efforts to repair and replace as many FOBs as possible before the onset ofmonsoon , their estimate is that eight CR FOBs and ten of WR will remain out of commission. Some of the worst affected stations because of this would be – Andheri, Bandra, Borivali, Virar, Jogeshwari and Bhayander on WR; and Kurla, Dadar, Masjid, Bhandup, Dombivali, Kalyan, Wadala and Ghatkopar on CR.
Twenty-nine people died in a stampede caused by overcrowding at Elphinstone station in September 2017. The incident occurred after people rushing out of the trains during the morning peak hour started accumulating on the bridge, in a bid to avoid the sudden burst of rains that morning.
The CR railway has requisitioned extra forces for the monsoon season. “We have asked for over 500 extra personnel from the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) and Home Guards,” said a CR official, who did not wish to be identified. The WR has applied for extra personnel from theRailway Protection Force and MSF to man its FOBs.
Both CR and WR have begun mock drills in preparation for the monsoon. On Monday, one such mock drill will take place at Andheri.
The recent collapse of the CSMT FOB that led to six deaths has put extra pressure on the Railways. CR and WR had asked for fresh audit of all its FOBs in the aftermath of the tragedy.
WR’s Chief Public Relations Officer Ravinder Bhakar said while the effort is to make sure that all FOBs are ready before the rains strike, an emergency crowd management plan has also been put in place.
CR’s Chief Public Relations Officer Sunil Udasi said work to complete repairs on all FOBs is underway. “However, we have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario,” he said.
With Elphinstone stampede still fresh in memory and at least 18
Despite CR and WR engineers’ best efforts to repair and replace as many FOBs as possible before the onset of
FOBs at these stations will be manned by ten security personnel during peak hours. The security personnel will be deployed in three layers – including the landing at the platform and its exit.
Twenty-nine people died in a stampede caused by overcrowding at Elphinstone station in September 2017. The incident occurred after people rushing out of the trains during the morning peak hour started accumulating on the bridge, in a bid to avoid the sudden burst of rains that morning.
The CR railway has requisitioned extra forces for the monsoon season. “We have asked for over 500 extra personnel from the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) and Home Guards,” said a CR official, who did not wish to be identified. The WR has applied for extra personnel from the
Both CR and WR have begun mock drills in preparation for the monsoon. On Monday, one such mock drill will take place at Andheri.
The recent collapse of the CSMT FOB that led to six deaths has put extra pressure on the Railways. CR and WR had asked for fresh audit of all its FOBs in the aftermath of the tragedy.
WR’s Chief Public Relations Officer Ravinder Bhakar said while the effort is to make sure that all FOBs are ready before the rains strike, an emergency crowd management plan has also been put in place.
CR’s Chief Public Relations Officer Sunil Udasi said work to complete repairs on all FOBs is underway. “However, we have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario,” he said.
An overcrowded foot over-bridge
