Chairman of railway board to conduct surprise inspection to check on hawkers in Mumbai

The chairman of the railway board, Ashwini Lohani, is likely to conduct surprise inspection of suburban stations in Mumbai.

The chairman of the railway board, Ashwini Lohani, is likely to conduct surprise inspection of suburban stations in Mumbai.

Hawkers occupying spaces on foot overbridges and entry/exit points of the stations are a menace for commuters during peak hours (HT File)

Lohani has sought information on what action is being taken to rid station premises of hawkers, following the Elphinstone Road station stampede on September 29.

Hawkers occupying spaces on foot overbridges and entry/exit points of the stations are a menace for commuters during peak hours.

“Regular information on hawkers inside railway premises is being sent to the railway board. The chairman of the railway board will conduct a surprise inspection of stations soon,” said a railway official.

Lohani, in a letter to central railway general manager, DK Sharma, has asked for a detailed report on action taken by the railways, Mumbai police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after the Elphinstone Road stampede.

The letter reads “It was directed that action against illegal hawkers on the railway land should be done on a regular basis. This needs to be viewed in the light of the recent incident that occurred on Elphinstone station.”

The letter further reads “ Kindly explain what detailed action has been taken by the railway police, mumbai police and BMC against illegal hawkers in their premises.”

Meanwhile, both the central and the western railway, along with the BMC, have declared areas 150 metres outside railway premises as non-hawking zones.