Good news for Western Railways passengers! 166 platforms turn friendlier

This monsoon, there is at least one risk that is likely to be eliminated for the 37 lakh daily commuters of Western Railway. It is the danger of slipping between the gap of platform and train. The WR authorities have raised the height of all 166 platforms between Churchgate and Dahanu, which got completed earlier this month.

“All the platforms on the suburban corridor has been raised to 900mm,” confirmed Ravinder Bhakar, Chief PRO, Western Railway. The work had started in April 2014, but it caught pace only in 2015. Finally, after spending Rs 30 crore, the authorities have completed this job that has reduced the gap and danger for commuters.

Only a couple of days ago, a toddler was saved by a Maharashtra Security Force jawan Sachin Pol, who risked his life and prevented the kid from going in the gap between train and platform at Mahalaxmi station. Falling in the gap between platform and train has been one of the reasons behind accidents on rail lines.

The height of platforms were raised in a phased manner. In the first phase, the height of those platforms with height of 760mm was raised. The second phase saw another 15 platforms — with heights ranging between 760mm and 840mm — being raised. And finally those with height of 840mm and above were taken up.

(By Shashank Rao, DNA)