CR ducks responsibility at accident site

The Central Railway has not bothered to clear the site of a railway accident that occurred more than six months ago. A decision on who will clear the site seems to be caught in red tape.

The Central Railway has not bothered to clear the site of a railway accident that occurred more than six months ago. A decision on who will clear the site seems to be caught in red tape.

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Eleven coaches of the Bangalore-bound 6505 Down Gandhidham-Bengaluru Express which derailed between Bhiwandi Road and Kopar stations in November 2009 are still lying at the same site. At least 12 passengers were injured during the accident.

The train’s coaches have been kept on wooden blocks too close to the running tracks on the Diva-Vasai section of Central Railway’s Mumbai division.

Villagers said these coaches and their spares are prone to theft and attract anti-social elements, leading to problem along the line. Local railway officials refused to comment saying that it was not the responsibility of Mumbai division of Central Railway to clear the coaches from the accident site as the coaches belong to the South Western Railway.

Also, the cost of the air-conditioned coaches runs into several lakhs of rupees. “The train did not belong to Central Railway and it is the responsibilities of the authorities in Bangalore to decide on what needs to be done of the coaches,” an official said, requesting anonymity.