7/11 train blasts: 11 years on, safety still a big concern

Mumbai: Despite railway stations being on the radar of terrorists and train commuters been targeted twice during the July 2006 train bombings and the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008, the stations still continue to have unhindered access via several unauthorised entry-exit points, according to railway police officials. The Government Railway Police (GRP) along with their counterparts at the Railway Protection Force (RPF) recently conducted a security audit of the stations, which revealed that there are at least 1090 unsecured spots between CSTM-Thane-Panvel and Churchgate-Bandra that need quick attention, according to Niket Kaushik, Commissioner, Government Railway Police (GRP).   

Owing to heavy and uncontrolled footfall at the railway stations, the ‘minimum standard security’ apparatus continues to be compromised as all the stations have unauthorised entry and exit points. This makes all the stations unsafe and the railways have been informed to plug them, however, very little has been done.  The highest number of vulnerable points, 315, was found in Vashi GRP’s Thane-Vashi trans-harbour line, which is last on the list of security.

“The audit is still underway and is being conducted by all the 17 police stations in Mumbai’s suburban section. The data will help to analyse the loopholes and improved coordination among the agencies and police. The concerned agencies (railways and BMC) are being informed about the findings for improving things on ground,” said Niket Kaushik, GRP commissioner.

The exhaustive audit covered several aspects including the chronic points where the boundary wall is ruptured for easy access to the railway tracks, unauthorized entry gates leading to the stations, unauthorized entry/exit points at the stations, railway material lying along the railway lines, encroachments around railway lines that also pose as a security hazard, spots which see overcrowding and accident prone spots.  

Read: Commissioner of police, GRP explains security

The officials said that the infrastructure needs a shot in the arm for countering these factors that have been looming like a sword over the security agencies. The unhindered access to railway lines became a hot potato after the suburban section witnessed incidents of attempted sabotage using the railway equipments and rail pieces that are kept along the railway lines.

Important stations like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Churchgate have seen improved security in the form of door frame metal detectors (DFMD), which are also put up at several other stations and terminals. The purpose is however not served as not all entry points are secured and not every passenger entering the station premise is checked.

The stations largely depend on CCTV, police-commando patrols and anti-sabotage checks. The basic criterion of restricted entry or conducting checks of passengers is still a distant dream.

7/11 Train Bombings

On July 11, 2006 seven explosions ripped through the first class compartments of the local trains during the evening peak hours, killing 187 commuters and injuring over 700 others, on the western railway line of the Mumbai locals. The explosions were carried out using pressure cookers that were stuffed with RDX and ammonium nitrate. The first blast took place between Khar and Santacruz station at around 6.24 pm. The next six explosions took place within eleven minutes between Bandra-Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Mahim, Mira Road-Bhyandar, Matunga Road-Mahim and Borivali stations.