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Following a stampede in Mumbai, where at least 23 people died, the Railways on Saturday decided to treat Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), platforms and pathways on platform as safety items having highest priority with no restriction of budget. Earlier, only the first FOB at a station was considered as essential and subsequent as passenger amenity, informed an official release.
A high-level meeting on Railways Safety was held in Mumbai today, under the chairmanship of Minister of Railways, Piyush Goyal to comprehensively review safety measures in Mumbai Suburban Railways as well as entire Indian Railways.
According to PTI, the death toll has touched 23 on Saturday.
According to the official release, for next 18 months, General Managers of Railway zones have been delegated powers without limit for safety related issues. They shall intimate Financial Commissioner within a week of sanction for provision, and the official shall confirm the same within 15 days. In case of disagreement, the matter shall be put up to the Railway Board for final decision within the same 15 days, said a release.
Additional escalators sanctioned at stations of the Mumbai Suburban system having high footfall with the details to be finalised within 15 days. Similar exercise will be carried out for all high use stations all over India, added the release.
Some 200 officers will be relocated from headquarters to strengthen ground operations and project implementation. Within the next 15 months, CCTV cameras will be installed in all suburban trains in Mumbai with monitoring mechanism. This shall be done in parallel across India as well. Delegation of financial and administration powers will be done to field units by October to reduce red tape and push development and delivery.
Officials in the meeting included Ashwani Lohani - Chairman, Railway Board, all railway board members were present in this meeting along with A K. Gupta-General Manager of Western Railway and D. K. Sharma-General Manager of Central Railway and security officials of the state government.
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