Day after Mumbai stampede, Goyal censures officials, assures funds to enhance safety on the tracks

Goyal assured funds for carrying out safety upgrades on the Mumbai suburban network after officials of both railway authorities cited a lack of financial powers as a hurdle to implementation.

After 23 deaths and 39 injuries on the Elphinstone Road station footover bridge on Friday and a rap by Union railway minister Piyush Goyal, the western and central railway authorities have reportedly swung into action.

Close to 80 lakh people travel daily on Mumbai’s suburban trains. On an average, 10 people die on the suburban network daily, mostly due to falling from the overcrowded trains. (HT File Photo)

Railways, civic body authorities and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will start acting on the depreciating transport situation in the city following a meeting with Goyal where he reportedly came down on them heavily.

The meeting, which was chaired by Goyal on Saturday, reportedly revealed shortcomings in not just both the railway authorities, but of different bodies in the city including the municipal authority.

According to officials present in the meeting, Goyal was stern but let all officers of the railways speak on issues in their department. Officials said a study on congested spaces, called the Comprehensive Transport Study (CTS), had been carried out in 2008 by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority but its findings were never implemented.

Officials also assured Goyal that another study will be carried out. Railway officials also alleged a lack of support from civic body officials in the city.

Meanwhile, central railway officials met with civic body officials on Sunday to discuss culverts which lead to flooding on railway tracks and in station areas.

Goyal had pointed out in the meeting that the issue of culverts is specifically on central railway lines. In the meeting the railway officials decided to inspect the culverts on all the stations and review and prepare a report. This inspection is likely to be carried out next week.