Tuesday, May 21, 2024 | Last Update : 03:46 AM IST
Strays, beggars not welcome
Rlys to create more space for commuters by removing dogs, beggars.
Mumbai: After hawkers, the Railways is now set to remove beggars and stray dogs from foot over-bridges (FOB) and railway platforms in order to create more space for commuters, said sources. The Railways will be tying up with the Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation (BMC) to remove dogs, with the help of the GRP and RPF. The BMC will be asked to help sterilise the dogs and send to them to dog pounds. But it is still not clear on what will be done with the beggars.
The stampede on the Elphinstone Road FOB on September 29, in which 23 lives were lost, has sparked off this drive for clearing platforms, FOBs and the areas outside stations so that commuters have more space to walk. Various railway activist groups have flayed the railways for not clearing up FOBs and platforms from hawkers, as well as stray dogs and beggars.
One such activist, Nirmal Takemgarh, ex-divisional railway users consultative committee (DRUCC) said, “Dogs and beggars both become an issue during peak hours, as the former don’t understand where to go and the latter have nowhere to go.” He added, “We are not saying remove them ruthlessly, but it is a fact that people often trip over the belongings of the homeless and dogs also panic when a sea of people are heading towards them.”
It is still unclear where the homeless will be rehabilitated. A railway official said, “The dogs will mostly be sent to dog pounds, but it is still unclear what will happen to the homeless, if the police will handle them or the BMC, and where will they be taken.”
The railways also hopes that the additional security personnel in the form of 500 RPF and GRP on both central and western Railway will help in conducting the clean up drive on platforms.
(Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)
Demolition drive
The Railways and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished around 30 illegal residents near Parel station on Tuesday. The demolition is of significance as there was confusion over who owned the land, the BMC or the Railways. An official said, “This is a good initiative, where both have come together to help each other and we will be looking into more such spaces where there can be mutual co-operation.”
