Need to find permanent solution for commuters’ problems, HC tells railways

The Bombay high court asked the railway authorities on Friday to come up with a permanent solution to the problems faced by commuters, provide medical care to accident victims and facilities for disabled people.

The Bombay high court asked the railway authorities on Friday to come up with a permanent solution to the problems faced by commuters, provide medical care to accident victims and facilities for disabled people.

A division bench of justice VM Kanade and justice AR Joshi was hearing a bunch of public interest litigations (PIL) highlighting the absence of emergency medical care at western and central railway stations and facilities for disabled commuters.

The court said many orders had already been passed, but merely giving directions was not sufficient. The judges said the authorities must realise their responsibility and not take decisions in an ad-hoc manner.

The court directed the railways to deliberate on the issue and asked the authorities to not only comply with previous orders, but also provide sufficient amenities for disabled commuters.

It was brought to the court’s notice that on February 9, a 29-year-old woman was hit by a rod while she was travelling in a train to Ambarnath. The woman fell on the tracks, but as there were no emergency medical facilities at the railway station, she was taken to a nearby civic-run hospital. The doctors there said she should be taken to a government hospital in Ulhasnagar. The woman was moved to KEM and then finally to JJ hospital, where she died because of blood loss.

The court also directed the railways to provide security in every train compartment.