The Central Railway Police Force (CRPF) has used statistics put out by Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) as part of its 2012 survey to plan a trespass control programme for the next 15 days. Spots such as Dadar, Thakurli and Kanjurmarg have been segregated into heavy, moderate and light trespass spots.
MRVC’s 2012 survey had identified six stations as heavy, moderate and light trespass spots which have been taken up by RPF as guide.
The six stations in question — Dadar, Kurla, Kanjurmarg, Thane, Thakurli and Kalyan — will be under strict RPF vigilance and data collected after 15 days will be used to plan similar such action.
These stations have been chosen owing to the number of deaths due to trespassing reported by Government Railway Police (GRP) and because the MRVC survey highlighted infrastructure shortcomings at each of these stations.
“There is a mix of problems at each of these stations; there might be some genuine issues like the foot over bridge being very far from where commuters alight, making it difficult to access if the platform is crowded during peak hours,” said RPF’s senior divisional security commissioner, Sachin Bhalode.
Each of the RPF posts at these stations have been told to conduct a drive on spots frequently used by commuters such as the north end foot over bridge at Kurla.
“The problem at Kurla is unique but the fact of the matter is that people cannot trespass even if it is inconvenient. This has to be followed to make sure that you and whoever you are travelling with are safe,” added Mr Bhalode. According to the GRP, the average number of commuter deaths per day is 10.
