Friday, January 17, 2014


Make all platforms safer in 2 weeks, CR told



MUMBAI: Not just Ghatkopar and Thane, Central Railway's Mumbai division has been directed to ensure that there are no abrupt discontinuation (like gaps) or any infringement (like signal poles) on platforms that can endanger the lives of commuters.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) of Central Circle has asked the authorities to comply and submit a report within two weeks.

Central Railway has finally begun work to fill up the pit at Ghatkopar's platform No 2 through which student Monika More, 16, fell and lost both arms. "We have decided to shift the signal horizontally by 1.5 meters and the junction box from the pit can be shifted to the middle of the tracks," said CR's divisional manager Mukesh Nigam.

Safety commissioner Chetan Bakshi told TOI: "There is no violation of the Schedule of Dimension (of platforms) in the case of Ghatkopar as the train was stopping well short of the signal. However, such discontinuation of platform is not desirable."

At Thane, another pit lying unattended for close to two years was finally covered. Workers from the railways' civil works department filled the ditch with debris and levelled it off with cement blocks. By Thursday afternoon, the signal box was also shifted, leaving behind a smooth platform surface.

The 10ftx3ft ditch was created after signal pole S68 was shifted following a mandate that equipment on platforms must be 4.7m away from the centre of the track.

Epitomizing railways red tape, the department relocating the signal shifted the pole but didn't move the allied equipment from the platform. It also didn't inform the civil works department and thus the gap was left unattended for almost two years.

Mumbai: Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has instructed Central Railway's Mumbai division to ensure that there is neither any abrupt discontinuation of the platform nor should there be any infringement that can endanger the lives of commuters.

CRS of Central Circle has asked the railway authorities to remove any such abnormalities and submit the report within two weeks.

CRS Chetan Bakshi told TOI, "There is no violation of the SOD in the case of Ghatkopar as the train was stopping well short of the signal. However, such discontinuation of platform is not desirable."

Central Railway has already begun work to fill up the pit at Ghatkopar Platform No 2 because which the accident victim Monika More fell and lost both her hands.

CR's divisional railway manger Mukesh Nigam said, "We have decided to shift the signal horizontally by 1.5 meters and junction box from the pit can be shifted in the middle of the track."

At Thane, the pit, which was lying unattended for close to two years was finally covered. ailway workers from the civil works departments started work on Wednesday afternoon and filled the ditch with debris and mud and leveled it off with cement blocks. By Thursday afternoon, the signal box was also shifted leaving behind a smooth platform surface.

A 10 feet x three feet wide ditch was created after signal pole (S68) was shifted away from the tracks following a mandate which said equipments on platforms must be 4.7m away from the centre of the track. "The department involved in relocation of signals shifted the pole but didn't move the allied equipments. They failed also to communicate the same to the civil works department that led to the gap being left unattended.