CR, WR may be 18 FOBs short this rainy season

Some of the worst affected stations on account of this might be – Andheri, Bandra, Borivali, Virar and Jogeshwari on WR; and Kurla, Dadar, Bhandup, Dombivali, Kalyan, Wadala and Ghatkopar on CR.

With Elphinstone stampede nonetheless contemporary in memory and a minimum of 18 foot-overbridges (FOBs) are likely to be close when rains arrive in Mumbai in a few months’ time, each 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’ easiest efforts to fix and exchange as many FOBs as conceivable earlier than the onset of monsoon, their estimate is that eight CR FOBs and ten of WR will stay out of fee. Some of the worst affected stations on account of this could be – Andheri, Bandra, Borivali, Virar, Jogeshwari and Bhayander on WR; and Kurla, Dadar, Masjid, Bhandup, Dombivali, Kalyan, Wadala and Ghatkopar on CR.

FOBs at those stations might be manned by way of ten security group of workers right through height hours. The security group of workers might be deployed in three layers – together with the landing on the platform and its go out.

Twenty-nine other folks died in a stampede caused by way of overcrowding at Elphinstone station in September 2017. The incident took place after other folks speeding out of the trains right through the morning height hour started accumulating at the bridge, in a bid to avoid the surprising burst of rains that morning.

The CR railway has requisitioned further forces for the monsoon season. “We have asked for over 500 further group of workers from the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) and Home Guards,” said a CR reliable, who didn't wish to be identified. The WR has applied for added group of workers from the Railway Protection Force and MSF to guy its FOBs.

Both CR and WR have begun mock drills in preparation for the monsoon. On Monday, one such mock drill will happen at Andheri.

The recent cave in of the CSMT FOB that led to six deaths has put further force at the Railways. CR and WR had asked for contemporary audit of all its FOBs within the aftermath of the tragedy.

WR’s Chief Public Relations Officer Ravinder Bhakar said whilst the trouble is to make certain that all FOBs are able earlier than the rains strike, an emergency crowd management plan has additionally been put in place.

CR’s Chief Public Relations Officer Sunil Udasi said paintings to finish maintenance on all FOBs is underway. “However, we need to be prepared for the worst-case state of affairs,” he said.

An overcrowded foot over-bridge