Mumbai's Lifeline - Suburban Train:
Many things are committed and many preventive measures are taken. But the major problem is sustainability. Suburban Railways is as vulnerable as it was prior to any attacks.
You still find Slum dwellers sleeping under the ceiling fan all night long.
Beggars are found, irritating commuter right on the middle of the narrow foot over bridge.
Illegal hawking, card playing groups and bhajan singing – so called religious groups are part of our life now.
Forget every thing, cops don’t even bother to ask you, if you are neatly dressed and carrying a 15 kgs carton. They have forgotten that last attack was made by denim wearing terrorists.
I wonder how safe are we and what actually can be done to secure railways. Few of the suggestions are as follows:
ü Season ticket and Railway ID Card should be Bar coded. This can help Tc’s / police to check one’s identity. (photo, age, residential address and valid ticket)
ü Build 3 – 4 broad foot over bridge at all stations for easy entry and exits.
ü All luggages of 10+ kilos should have a security tag with the place of origin and destination. This should also include Fruit vendors, fisher man and dabbawala’s. (Bar coded with the passengers details.)
ü Escalators are not at all a bad idea.
ü Increase the cost of ticket, yes we don’t mind it. If not for second class, make it for first class or else create an additional category – Business class with better seating.
ü Please change the level punishment make it more harsh, defaulter are hardly scared of them. Put every defaulter behind bars at least for one day for any crime. Be it spitting (Gutkha & Pan) crossing the tracks, sitting on the roof on the train, ticketless travellers etc.
ü Staying at Kandivali and travelling to Churchgate Station daily is a very sad experience. I have many more suggestion can share with you if required.
I hope nothing goes wrong with our lifeline and wish for the best to our Railways.
