Title - CR’s new tracks a bag of woes Fixed Structures Pose A Risk To Commuters Leaning Out With Backpacks

Mumbai: The laying of the fifth and sixth tracks between Thane and Kurla may promise more services but it has put Central Railway (CR) in a piquant situation: fixed structures like signal poles, though installed within permissible limits, are now much closer to the moving train. This means there’s an increased risk of accidents when commuters travelling on a train’s footboard lean out too much. The risk is enhanced further in case of commuters sporting bagpacks or other big-sized bags.
    On April 19, three people died and 31 were injured after being hit by part of a ladder hanging lose from a signal pole between Mulund and Nahur.
    Chief public relations officer of CR V A Malegaonkar sought to quell these fears, saying, “Indian Railways has schedule of dimensions (SOD) for broadgauge tracks and coaches. No fixed structure is allowed to infringe on the SOD. That is why commuters, whether standing on footboard or seated inside the compartment, on board a moving train are perfectly safe from external fixed structures.”
    SOD indicates an obstruction free zone within which railway coaches, wagons or engines travel. As per norms, a fixed structure should be located around 2.3m from the centre of the track. CR ensures that that fix structures are at a safe distance even from the maximum moving dimension of a running train.
    An official said, “When the suburban system had only four lines, fixed structures were located at a much safer distance than today. Even after laying additional tracks within the same area, we have been able to maintain the norms laid down in SOD for fixed structures.”
    But officials, on the condition of anonymity, concede that fixed structures, despite being installed as per norms, pose a risk to commuters who carry backpacks and lean out of moving trains. Malegaonkar said, “Travelling on rooftops and excessive leaning out can be risky as SOD does not take into account unsafe methods of commuting.”