Hello all,
Yesterday despite of stressing on the threats of travelling in Mumbai's lifeline another mishap happened wherein one died and another is critically injured after losing control from an overcrowded train.
It was just few months ago Railway authorities started to educate commuters the threats of standing on the doors of train or climbing above the train but the commuters of Mumbai local pay no heed to such announcements and continue to perform such life-threatening activities.
Yes such mishap has happened again but time it was because of the overcrowded train that pushed them outside as they lost their balance.
This incident happened at Mira Road Station on Western Line. Eyewitness say that Tushar Patole (26) and Shabbir Bimla (22), were hanging perilously on the footboard of the train and just when the local gathered speed after leaving the Mira Road Station the crowd gave a sudden push to these two men towards the door. And both of them fell out of the train, while Shabbir Bimla died at the spot, Tushar Patole was saved but at the cost of his forehead and left ear critically injured. Both of them were immediately rushed to Bhagwati Hospital where Shabbir was announced dead and Tushar was given effective treatment and now he is out of danger.
However The Western Authorities had a different story to tell, "These duo were performing feats which were life threating. While doing this outrageous feats their balance tripped and they fell. The locals are always crowed at this time but no such incident has ever happened till date," said the WRs Chief Public Relations Officer, Sharad Chandrayan.
But Patole rigidly denied saying, "The train was overcrowded and the other man fell first because of the pressure from commuters, seeing all this commotion even I got perplexed lost my balance and fell off."
Stone flung at train costs man his sight
Posted On Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 03:05:32 AM|
A 44-year-old employee of State Transport has lost the vision in his left eye after he was hit by a stone while travelling in a local train earlier this month, JJ Hospital doctors said on Monday.
So what has CR done about it? "No one from the Central Railway has bothered to come. Ideally, I am supposed to be compensated. The cops too have failed to track down the accused," said Pawar. When Mumbai Mirror contacted AR Jagtap, a senior inspector at Kalyan GRP, he explained that it is difficult to find the culprit as the spot where the incident took place has slums on both sides. "We are investigating the case. I have already held a meeting with locals to find out about the suspect," he said. AK Singh, public relations officer for CR, said, "It's a serious incident and we have asked security officials to increase the vigil along the railway tracks in the area. As for compensation, the victim can approach the Railway Claims Tribunal which will ensure that he is compensated. We regret the incident." |
Stone thrown at train, pilot hurt
A locomotive pilot of the Mumbai-Aurangabad Janshatbdi Express was severely injured after being hit by a stone on Wednesday afternoon.
"Some unidentified miscreants hurled a stone at the express train between Sion and Matunga stations," said V.A. Malegaonkar, chief public relations officer of the Central Railway (CR).
The stone broke the windshield of the cabin and hit the loco pilot V. Pathak (37), a resident of Vashind. A profusely bleeding Mr Pathak was immediately given medical attention when the train reached Kurla, as he had suffered abrasions on the face.
Mr Pathak was then rushed to the Railway Hospital in Byculla for further treatment. The GRP stated that preliminary investigation had revealed that the stone was hurled from a fast train running parallel to the express train.
Due to the incident, the railway timetable was disrupted for a while. The Mumbai-Aurangabad Janshatbdi train was held up at Kurla for around half-an-hour till 4.30 pm.
Three mail express trains, Mumbai-Kanyakumari Express, Mumbai-Nagpur Sewagram Express and Dadar-Ratnagiri Passenger, were also held up for some time due to the incident. In the suburban corridor, fast trains also share the lines with the express trains and hence, they had to be diverted to the slow lines, causing delays of 15 to 20 minutes on the down direction.
There have been a spate of stone pelting incidents this year. On May 5, two passengers were injured in separate incidents of stone-pelting in Byculla and Wadala. Satish Tari (30), a resident of Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, lost his right vision permanently when a stone hit him below his eye when the train was between Wadala and GTB Nagar railway stations.
In another incident, Navanath Karale (39) suffered injuries to his chin, when a stone hit him, while he was standing at the door of a crowded second-class compartment.
Deepak Ramchandra Vishe (29), who was travelling from Kalyan to Asangaon, was injured when a stone hurled at the train hit him above the left eye between Shahad and Ambivali stations on May 17.
Central Railway boss promises paan-free 'stainless' local trainsPublished: Saturday, Nov 26, 2011, 8:45 IST By Rajendra Aklekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA | |
| |
Crores shelled out on cleaning trains can't take paan stains off | |||||
| |||||
Expenditure of about Rs 2 crore, a bunch of hi-tech machines, and army of washers and cleaners unable to get smudges, posters off Mumbai locals The red stain could be said to be the trademark of the Mumbai local. Thousands of litres of water, crores of rupees, and uncountable cleaning hours haven't been able to scrub the paan stains and unauthorised posters off the walls of the city's locals, that still look freshly dunked in a pool of grime. |
Hello all,What a no brainerhttp://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/nov/051111-Crores-shelled-out-on-cleaning-trains-cant-take-paan-stains-off.htmSimply can't understand why history repeats, when there are easier ways to prevent full scale wholesale encouragement of spittingSome intelligent officials think those who want grills from suburban windows removed are idiots , thinking that grills are there to protect the passengers seated at the windowsOf course idiots recognise other idiots.What about the idiots who stand at the doorways, providing themselves full targets from head to toe, for expert amateur and professional stone and acid balloon throwers practising for the All World Anti Social Stone and Acid Balloon Throwing Championships held alongside suburban tracks everyday in India.How come these idiots don't demand the doors closed, which would not only protect the idiots standing at the door from the objects thrown at them, but also by the way, incidentally, prevent them from falling off the moving train, and possibly save their life or at least part of their limb, etc.On a more serious note, grills are a no no, preventing easier and faster evacuation in times of accidents and emergencies.
They also adversely contribute to the mess while the anti social idiot spits outside the window.Instead, put the half glass pane, not poly carbonate sheets which cloud due to solar radiation, and get scratches otherwise, and protect the head, neck and face of the passenger seated at the window.Keep the upper half open without.This will allow full ventilation, light for the passengers inside, allow for fast and quick evacuation in times of accidents, emergencies, and will ensure the idiot who wants to spit will have to stand in full view of everyone else, and expose his anti social action, unlike if the opening was at sill level and he could quietly spit out by facing outwards with no one easily seeing, but knowing.Further, if at all the person actually spit, mostly it would fall onto the glass panel below, easier to clean.Those fool hardy standees at the door can be given a bit of safer travel by having a second safety door made of the same grill.This would allow light and ventilation, protect the standees, both from falling off the train, and the from the anti social stone and balloon throwers.In any case, there is ample scope for improving safety and the cleanliness of coaches.Another thing to consider is what kind of paints or plastic film is being used to coat the new rakes, and in any case, it should not be back to the rusty red just to hide the pan stains.While there are these promiseshttp://epaper.dnaindia.com/epaperpdf%5C14102011%5C13main%20edition-pg8-0.pdf
http://www.mrvc.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,298http://www.mrvc.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,298,430
http://mrvcmania.wordpress.com/Amidst all this, the Western Railway, Central Railway, Central Railway Harbour, would really be well advised to implement the Cyclical Time Table at the earliest, the commuters will get the biggest relief, Mumbai will get more productive man hours, daily life will radically change for the better
Thanqx.
Jagdeep DESAIArchitect
SecretaryFounder Trusteeforum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs
>>>
Crores shelled out on cleaning trains can't take paan stains off
By: Shashank Rao Date: 2011-11-05 Place: Mumbai
Expenditure of about Rs 2 crore, a bunch of hi-tech machines, and army of washers and cleaners unable to get smudges, posters off Mumbai locals
The red stain could be said to be the trademark of the Mumbai local. Thousands of litres of water, crores of rupees, and uncountable cleaning hours haven't been able to scrub the paan stains and unauthorised posters off the walls of the city's locals, that still look freshly dunked in a pool of grime.
The washing plant in Kurla car shed that is used to clean
filthy local trains fails in the face of spit stains
While the Central Railway has state-of the-art automated cleaning machines, each costing around Rs 60 lakh, at their car sheds in Kurla, Sanpada and Kalwa, the Western Railway contracted a private company for a whopping Rs 4.46 crore in June 2010 to wash the trains at its car sheds at Mumbai Central and Kandivli.
But the high-end cleaning plants have failed in the face of the ubiquitous gob of spit, which has lent itself to a shapeless patchwork of smutty red on each of the 190-odd local trains in which 70 lakh Mumbaikars spend a considerable time of their day.
"Railway authorities are not able to cope with the cleaning process of so many locals," said Subhash Gupta, former member, National Railway Users Consultative Committee.
Commuters say they steel themselves when they have to sit near the train's window as they invariably find someone spitting - paan, cough, and what have you - or find a spit stain already in place.
Chewed up and spat out gums form another source of revulsion. "I am repulsed by the idea that I would have to touch any part of the train. But I suppress my dusgust, and hold something for grip," said Revti Sharma, a daily commuter.
Labour lost
"The machines are there but the paan stains and filth are difficult to scrub. We have to employ workers to manually clean the rakes even after they have been washed mechanically in the sheds," said a senior WR official on condition of anonymity.
Their two car sheds clean four trains each everyday. They utilise around 350 litres of water for cleaning one coach, on its interior and exterior. "With this mechanised machine, we save 30 per cent water. But paan stains and stickers continue to be a problem," said chief PRO, S Chandrayan, WR.
The Central Railway (CR) isn't faring well in eradicating the filth from trains. "There is no option but to go for a second round of cleaning every day. The metal bodies of trains bear the stains for long," said a senior CR official.
They consume around 500 litres of water to clean each coach. The CR authorities clean and wash 10 trains of 12 coaches every day at their sheds. "We are running campaigns to make people understand the need to keep trains clean," said V Malegaonkar, chief PRO, CR.
The railway authorities are planning to change the body of the train while buying 72 rakes in the coming days.
Rs 1.44 cr
The amount CR and WR together spend per year to scrub 193 suburban locals
2 litres
The amount of special graffiti-removing detergent used along with 10 litres of non-caustic detergent per train>>>
And the award for idiot of the year goes to...
By: Sanjeev Devasia Date: 2009-12-03 Place: Mumbai
Mid Day Archives
Related Tags window grills, local trains, paan,MRVC The unknown man who demanded that window grills in local trains be removed so that he could spit out paan
Mumbaikars are never satisfied with whatever they're offered.
The officials of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), which manufactures the new age Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) white and purple rakes, are the worst victims of the absurd demands of the Mumbai commuter.
And the weirdest demand the ICF has received is to remove the window grill of the trains to allow commuters to easily spit out of the train.
"We are surprised at how someone can demand a facility, which will enable him to spit out paan or whatever they chew.
WHAT A BAD IDEA, SIRJI: Commuters do not want window grills to be removed.
The demand is absurd not only from the cleanliness point of view, but also because it is a safety hazard to keep the windows open without a grill when local trains are susceptible to stone throwing," said an ICF official.
According to ICF, the demand has come by way of feedback from the public who travel by the trains.
"The railway administration is struggling with the cleaning of trains, especially the paan and ghutkha stains and graffiti. And then there's this stupid demand," said another official.
Other demands
But MRVC claims to have not received any such demand. Its managing director, P C Sehgal, said, "The ICF may have received this demand from the zonal railway authorities.
That's not to say that we have not received some strange demands. One of them is about providing toilets inside the local trains!"
There have also been other impractical demands like trains with doors that shut as soon as it's in motion and also air-conditioned trains.
"Sometimes, people even demand drastic increase in services without considering the infrastructure, including the number of new rakes, and also the present working conditions in the Mumbai suburban system," said Sehgal.
'Foolish'
Commuter Rajendra More (32), who travels from Belapur to CST, is shocked to hear about this demand. "This is a foolish idea.
It'll affect the safety of commuters," he said. Added Chintan Upadhyay, who travels from Ghatkopar to Dadar every day, "It's a bad idea because the grills offer security. But people will continue to dirty trains."
Constructive Suggestions
Some of the improvements carried out in the new rakes based on commuter's suggestions are:
>> Extra grab poles at the door were removed
>> Handle added to the sliding door
>> Grab rails inside the trains were reduced from three to two rows
>> Leg space between the seats in the first class compartment was increased after complaints
>> Establishing full partition between ladies and general compartments>>>On Thu, Jun 10, 2010 at 2:15 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com> wrote:Hello all,
Just like the knee jerk reaction to put grills, ie jallis, onto windows already with bars,How about grills, ie jallis on these openings, gave a look at the doors, the passengers are fully exposed to the risks of falling, of being knocked to close poles, by the thieves as mentioned in the report, by rain, etcTo repeat second time, we need to have jallis and grills on doorways, which would necessarily close before the train moves out from the station, like in Tokyo, and metro trains all over.Why should passengers be allowed to stand at the gates and risk themselves.The windows which are fitted with jallis and grills, on a court ruling, among other reasons, for preventing some stray balloons hurting passengers sitting at the window seats, thrown by rascal miscreants thrown once in a while, have a small target area.The doors are much larger, and statistics will reveal more accidents than windows.So why this discrimination.
Close the doors, put jallis, and grills.Or debar the windows, put the fixed portion lower half, and open the top portion and see the difference.
Jagdeep DESAISecretaryFounder TrusteeForum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs+91 98 6922 7148>>>Deadliest stretch on our tracks
Armed thieves attack commuters hanging out of trains between Bandra and Mahim
Virat A Singh
Posted On Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 02:56:01 AM
A two-kilometre stretch on the Western line between Bandra and Mahim is fast emerging as the most dangerous place on the Mumbai railway tracks.
Over the last month, more than 20 reported incidents of robbery have been committed here by a group of thieves who stand alongside the tracks with rods in an attempt to prise out mobile phones and handbags from passengers standing near the exits of the speeding trains, often endangering their lives.
Despite several pleas by passengers for more vigilance by the Railway police, and barricades such as nets and walls along the track, there has been no movement by WR.
In another such incident on Tuesday, Andheri resident Om Prakash Jain, a 42-year-old computer salesman, was standing near the train's door on his way to his office at Lamington Road when he was suddenly hit from outside the train by what he thought was a rod.
Jolted, he lost his balance and was about to fall over, but managed to hang on to the pole near the exit. The cell phone he was holding, however, slipped out of his hands.
"I was standing on the footboard of the train when a man hit my hand with a rod. I saw him doing it. The phone slipped away, and I was about to fall off. I'm lucky to be alive," Jain told Mumbai Mirror.
As he was regaining his balance, dangling half out of the door, Jain saw the thief target another person on the speeding train.
A few weeks ago, these thieves, who stand on the side of the tracks in this lonely stretch just a few minutes after the train crosses Bandra station heading towards south Mumbai, had knocked off a woman passenger while attempting to steal her handbag. She had, however, escaped with minor injuries.
"Every day, these thieves earn Rs 20,000-25,000 from that spot, most of that by selling mobile phones.
Omprakash Jain
Usually people don't even complain, and those who do, don't get much help from the police," Bhavesh Patel, an activist who helps railway passengers through an NGO, said.
"People are scared to travel through this stretch now. We have demanded a giant strobe light in the area so that at least the thieves aren't able to strike easily at night, when passengers are most vulnerable. But nothing has happened so far."
A railway police officer confirmed that such incidents were on the rise, and that the stretch was slowly gaining in notoriety. "Around 20 such cases come up before the GRP every month," said an officer from Bandra GRP.
"Most of these thieves are minors from nearby slums. We have caught a few of them, but being juveniles, they are let off within a day.
This location is surrounded by marshy swamps, the creek, and slums," added Senior Inspector Ashok Survegandh.
In February last year, a police constable, Laxman Ahinave, was run over by a train while chasing a man who had stoten a commuter's mobile in similar fashion.
While the GRP blame the Railways for not setting up enough barricades, such as fences and walls, to protect the tracks, authorities in turn call for a more vigilant performance by the GRP.
In the middle of this back and forth, the commuters are seething. "I fail to understand why the Railways have not been able to fence the area next to the tracks.
The thieves are now striking at will. Are the officials waiting for a bigger tragedy to happen?" asked Sameer Zaveri, director of Mumbai Suburban Railway Passengers Association.
When contacted, the chief public relations officer of Western Railway, SS Gupta, admitted he was aware of the problem.
"The permission to fence the areas around tracks has been granted. Within three months, fencing will be completed around vulnerable areas in consultation with Bandra GRP," he said.>>>On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 11:50 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,Would like to suggest an idiotic suggestion to prevent passengers from falling off suburban train doors or getting knocked off after getting hit by poles which are very close to the trainshttp://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/dec/141209-Imran-Querishi-motormen-stationmaster-Sandhurst-Road.htmAt risk of being termed an idiot, we need to have jallis and grills on doorways, which would necessarily close before the train moves out from the station, like in Tokyo, and metro trains all over.Why should passengers be allowed to stand at the gates and risk themselves.The windows which are fitted with jallis and grills, on a court ruling, among other reasons, for preventing some stray balloons hurting passengers sitting at the window seats, thrown by rascal miscreants thrown once in a while, have a small target area.The doors are much larger, and statistics will reveal more accidents than windows.So why this discrimination.Close the doors, put jallis, and grills.Or debar the windows.Jagdeep DESAISecretaryFounder TrusteeForum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs+91 98 6922 7148>>>
18-yr-old bled to death on tracks as trains went by
By: Sanjeev Devasia Date: 2009-12-14 Place: Mumbai
Imran Querishi's friends waved down 3 trains, but motormen didn't do their job of informing stationmaster about accident; he died soon after
Smarter friends and an active Railway would've ensured that Imran Querishi were alive today.
The 18-year-old was travelling from Wadala to CST when he fell off the crowded train and hit a pole just after Sandhurst Road around 10.30 am on Friday.
Some of his acquaintances on the train saw him fall and got off at Masjid station and instead of approaching police personnel at the station and informing them about Imran's accident, they ran towards the spot where he fell.
HANGING QUESTION: Imran Querishi was travelling from Wadala to CST when he fell off the crowded train and hit a pole as the train left Sandhurst Road station on Friday.
15 mins lost
Once there, they tried to stop three trains that were passing by to carry the body on board. But none of the motormen stopped. "Imran's friends waved frantically to all the three trains, but in vain.
Finally, the motorman of the fourth train stopped and Imran was taken onboard. They got off at Masjid station and shifted Imran to GT Hospital," said Saleem Chand Shaikh, Imran's uncle.
The exercise took about 25 minutes. He was declared dead some time after being admitted.
"Imran suffered head injuries and died due to excessive bleeding. Precious time was lost in shifting him to a hospital," added Shaikh.
1,800
The number of people who died on the railway tracks in the last six months. Sixty per cent of them lost their lives while trying to cross the tracks. The rest fell off the trains
20,706
The approximate number of people who died on the railway tracks in the last five years, as revealed by an RTI application
The Other Side The Railway refuse to take the blame for Imran's death. Central Railway chief public relations officer Srinivas Mudgerikar said, "Trains require some time to stop.
So if brakes are applied when the motorman saw the boys waving and the train was at a speed of 50 kmph, it would have stopped around 120 m away.
That's the distance between the accident spot and Masjid station. It's the motorman's job to inform the stationmaster about any incident and the stationmaster sends the hamals and the GRP personnel to the spot in case of an accident."
However, MiD DAY learnt that the stationmaster at Masjid was not informed by any of the three motormen. Imran's family, however, is not interested in explanations.
"He got engaged two months ago and was to be married soon. It's all over now," said Saleem Chand Shaikh.>>>
On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 3:29 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,In reference to the report, And the award for idiot of the year goes to, page 2, Mid Day, 2009 DEC 03, by Sanjeev DEVASIAThe report says the ICF which manufactures the new coaches for Central and Western Railways has received a request from an 'idiot' who wants grills removed so that he can spit out more easily.The accompanying photo, shows the dirty, pan stained, spit laden side walls even with the grills on.Could the grills prevent spitting, staining, discolouring, then spending lakhs on cleaning the mess, and then crores more on giving a stain protecting coatSo any idiot can see that grills being there or not, idiots are going to spit anyway.The ICF official says the grills are for safety of the commuter to prevent injury to the passenger from being victims of stone throwing.At the risk of being termed an idiot, it is again idiotic to have huge doorways, in which passengers stand, risk there lives and limbs, which expose themselves to stone throwing, and only putting grills on the smaller windows.Why aren't there grills there.Its idiotic.Further, if this were the issue at all, then the fixed portion of the safety glass, not polycarbonate, which clouds, scratches, discolours due to weather, should be on the lower half of the opening, the openable, moveable part, on the upper half, without any bars and grills, see highlighted portion below.Any idiot can see, we will get safety from stone throwing and chain snatching, since the fixed portion will prevent the objects and miscreants hands from reaching to the target victim's neck, etc.And better still, any idiot who wants to spit, like that idiot who wrote to ICF, will have to stand up in from of others, and then spit out, making a public idiot of himself.And those passengers standing inside will have good ventilation, good view, good breeze, all unhindered being free from bars, grills, jallis.Even then, in the event the idiot spits, in the moving train, the spit will spray onto the lower glass, from which it can be cleaned easier than on the painted portions, which will be less affected.Further, and very critical, during emergency evacuation, passengers can be removed from inside through these openings which have no bars or grills, and at worse case, the glass can be broken.At present, metal cutting saws, gas cutters neen to be brought to the accident site, and time, effort is wasted in carving out an accessible opening, precious life saving time is lost, and dangers of the saws, cut metal, and flames may even further injure the already injured passengers.Also, what grill prevents any idiot from spitting inside the compartment, as is the case when it rains and windows are shut, why are there no litter bins, waste containers.What prevents idiots from dirtying the coaches, particurly in first class compartments with human waste, prevent anyone from sitting, or maybe even entering.So, as a QED, the new trains should have no bars or grills, have the fixed glass on the lower half, and the upper portion be the moveable one.Something like what the ICF has given the coaches operated in the Northern Railways' Jammu and Kashmir trainsAnd many train in Europe and elsewhere have similar window configuration, and if you believe the undersigned, school buses in USA, Canada, etc, too, use this systemHave you heard of school children falling off school buses in USA and Canada.Does that mean there are no idiots there.All idiots, non idiots, intelligent, smart, sane people will all be satisfied.And whatever happened about installing closed circuit cameras for security, which will also record the idiots who spit and dirty trains and railway property.Thanqx.Jagdeep DESAIArchitectSecretaryFounder TrusteeForum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs+91 98 6922 7148>>>
And the award for idiot of the year goes to...
By: Sanjeev Devasia Date: 2009-12-03 Place: Mumbai
Mid Day Archives
Related Tags window grills, local trains, paan,MRVC The unknown man who demanded that window grills in local trains be removed so that he could spit out paan
Mumbaikars are never satisfied with whatever they're offered.
The officials of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), which manufactures the new age Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) white and purple rakes, are the worst victims of the absurd demands of the Mumbai commuter.
And the weirdest demand the ICF has received is to remove the window grill of the trains to allow commuters to easily spit out of the train.
"We are surprised at how someone can demand a facility, which will enable him to spit out paan or whatever they chew.
WHAT A BAD IDEA, SIRJI: Commuters do not want window grills to be removed.
The demand is absurd not only from the cleanliness point of view, but also because it is a safety hazard to keep the windows open without a grill when local trains are susceptible to stone throwing," said an ICF official.
According to ICF, the demand has come by way of feedback from the public who travel by the trains.
"The railway administration is struggling with the cleaning of trains, especially the paan and ghutkha stains and graffiti. And then there's this stupid demand," said another official.
Other demands
But MRVC claims to have not received any such demand. Its managing director, P C Sehgal, said, "The ICF may have received this demand from the zonal railway authorities.
That's not to say that we have not received some strange demands. One of them is about providing toilets inside the local trains!"
There have also been other impractical demands like trains with doors that shut as soon as it's in motion and also air-conditioned trains.
"Sometimes, people even demand drastic increase in services without considering the infrastructure, including the number of new rakes, and also the present working conditions in the Mumbai suburban system," said Sehgal.
'Foolish'
Commuter Rajendra More (32), who travels from Belapur to CST, is shocked to hear about this demand. "This is a foolish idea.
It'll affect the safety of commuters," he said. Added Chintan Upadhyay, who travels from Ghatkopar to Dadar every day, "It's a bad idea because the grills offer security. But people will continue to dirty trains."
Constructive Suggestions
Some of the improvements carried out in the new rakes based on commuter's suggestions are:
>> Extra grab poles at the door were removed
>> Handle added to the sliding door
>> Grab rails inside the trains were reduced from three to two rows
>> Leg space between the seats in the first class compartment was increased after complaints
>> Establishing full partition between ladies and general compartments>>>
On Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 11:28 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
Once again, HT, 2009 AUG 04
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleImage.aspx?article=04_08_2009_003_007&mode=1
So many reports on the almost futile efforts of 'cleaning' trains of litter, garbage, uncontrolled spitting, etc.
The fact of the matter is that unless there is a virtual cut in the source of this litter and garbage generation, and a real intensive and sustained effort on a war footing, to clean the tracks, track sides, platforms, coaches, and not only to catch the offenders, but nmake them clean up what they 'spat' or littered, its not going to work.
Fines and punishments are only temporary and get only those who are 'caught'.
Most get away with it.
So a better option is to cut as much as posible of the source.
Ban sale of all packaged commodities, especially single use packets of pan masala, gutkha, sweets, lozenges, biscuits, etc. from platform stalls.
Those who are addicted to consuming this, will buy from outside anyway.
But IR, WR, CR, should not aid and abet this.
Besides, strict check of tickets on entry to platforms and stations, rather than on exit, will reduce the hangers on, riff raff, and other unauthorised persons on, leading to less crowding, so less garbage and litter.
Security will be that much better, less crowds, little better control.
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2009/07/18&PageLabel=7&EntityId=Ar00702&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rly-employees-union-protests-against-filthy-tracks/487542/
Thanqx.+91 98 6922 7148
Jagdeep DESAI
Architect
Secretary
Founder Trustee
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs
>>>
>>>
On Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 7:25 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,So many reports on the almost futile efforts of 'cleaning' trains of litter, garbage, uncontrolled spitting, etc.
The fact of the matter is that unless there is a virtual cut in the source of this litter and garbage generation, and a real intensive and sustained effort on a war footing, to clean the tracks, track sides, platforms, coaches, and not only to catch the offenders, but nmake them clean up what they 'spat' or littered, its not going to work.
Fines and punishments are only temporary and get only those who are 'caught'.
Most get away with it.
So a better option is to cut as much as posible of the source.
Ban sale of all packaged commodities, especially single use packets of pan masala, gutkha, sweets, lozenges, biscuits, etc. from platform stalls.
Those who are addicted to consuming this, will buy from outside anyway.
But IR, WR, CR, should not aid and abet this.
Besides, strict check of tickets on entry to platforms and stations, rather than on exit, will reduce the hangers on, riff raff, and other unauthorised persons on, leading to less crowding, so less garbage and litter.
Security will be that much better, less crowds, little better control.
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2009/07/18&PageLabel=7&EntityId=Ar00702&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rly-employees-union-protests-against-filthy-tracks/487542/
Thanqx.+91 98 6922 7148
Jagdeep DESAI
Architect
Secretary
Founder Trustee
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs
>>>>>>
Clean up act: WR to fine, jail litterbugs
Roana Maria Costa I TNN
Mumbai: The next time you decide to conveniently push a wrapper out of the narrow grille of a suburban train, splatter chewed paan aimlessly on a platform, or drop leftovers on the train floor, stop. Western Railway (WR) has decided to start a cleanliness drive where you can be fined, jailed or both, for any of the above offences.
Besides allowing the RPF to take action against offenders (after they are produced before a court), WR is is working towards empowering its staff—ticket checkers (TCs) and stations masters (SMs)—to get rid of filthy, smelly stations and locals.
The move comes close on the heels of a similar campaign launched by the Central Railway (CR). Long overdue, this comes after countless commuters SMSed their anguish over filthy stations and demanded that paan and gutka be banned on trains and station areas get cleaner.
After sending people to jail for trespassing on the tracks under Article 156 of the Indian Railways Act, officials said that they won't hesitate to do the same to litterbugs under Article 145(b). Under the Act, a commuter can be imprisoned for one month, fined Rs 250 or both if caught creating nuisance at railway stations.
"More than 500 text messages have come in from commuters complaining against dirty trains and stations. We will start with awareness drives and do not rule out arresting offenders as a last resort," said chief public relations officer, WR, S S Gupta.
At present, each train is washed internally and externally once in 10 days and swept every day. But the effect is lost in a few trips. Officials hope that since commuters themselves have expressed a desire for cleaner stations, the drive won't face resistance.
WR has also written to the BMC to authorise its staff under the cleanliness and sanitation by-laws to fine offenders. Gupta said the civic body has shown a positive approach. "If a commuter is caught littering, he can be fined anything between Rs 100-200 on the spot," said Gupta.
BIN THE TRASH
WR is also studying a new vacuum technology to clean up the trains. A transparent Rotofreescand dustbin was introduced at Churchgate station on Friday on an experimental basis. These bins will be installed at all stations based on commuter feedback. WR will also allow the BMC to use station space to advertise its antipolythene drive. TNN
>>>Railway looks at plastic gel to keep its new rakes stain-free
After the Western Railway rolled out its new violet-silver coloured rakes in November 2007, the officials are having a tough time maintaining them. The rakes now bear unwanted graffiti and stains.
However, officials can now breathe a sigh of relief after a recent report by the Railway Board suggested a gel to keep its rakes stain-free. The report stated that all suburban trains, including Seimens rakes, will be painted with stain-proof clear coat plastic gel so that the stains on them can be easily wiped off.
A demonstration by electrical department on June 17 to general manager, WR, RN Verma, showed encouraging results. A coach of a train was painted with the stain-proof gel that helped them to get rid of graffiti and stains in no time. "After the gel was applied to the coach, the stains were removed easily," said a senior WR official. He added, "These graffiti and stains remain even after the trains are cleaned using chemicals."
Ads by GoogleCheapest land in Mumbai For 2.97 lakhs, near to Railway Station & Highways, with securityedenplots.comSilica Gel Manufacturer Silica Gel Blue, Orange & White In Beads & Granular Types. ISO 9000www.SorbeadIndia.comGel Labels - Resin Doming Domed labels Doming Kits & Machines Labels & Nameplates, Quick leadtimewww.mockridge.com"Since the new colours are light, stains on these rakes will make them look ugly. Also, these are not easy to remove. Such a colour combination can only work abroad since people there have more civic sense," said another WR official. At present, Seimen's new trains are painted with polyurethane to protect rakes from getting corroded.
Shyam Sunder Gupta, chief public relations officer, Western Railway, said, "WR did a trial on one of the coaches and the report has been submitted to the Railway Board in New Delhi, which will take a final decision."
>>>
Rly employees' union protests against filthy tracks
Kalpana VermaTags : mumbai, Rly employees' union protestsPosted: Friday , Jul 10, 2009 at 0216 hrsMumbai:A railway employee was injured on Tuesday while cleaning an outstation train on platform no 3 of Bandra Terminus. Manish Parmar suffered injuries on his head after he slipped and fell on the tracks on Tuesday afternoon. He was rushed to the Jagjeevan Ram Hospital. His condition is said to be stable now.
This is not the first case when a helper has been injured while cleaning and maintaining trains. In the last six months, 20 helpers, fitters and supervisors have received injuries. They blame it on the tracks that are full of filth, mud and garbage. The open drains along the tracks are also clogged and overflowing, causing the area to become slippery. Also, concrete sleepers have been stacked between platforms, obstructing smooth functioning. Moreover, with rains here, the situation has got worse.
"In addition, overhead lighting arrangements are not available at all platforms. If a person has to work between two stationary trains at platforms 1 and 2, he is bound to work without enough light and only with a torch in hand. The area is uneven and slippery, full of dirt and muck," said an agitated staff member, who was recently injured.
Most of the outstation trains are maintained in Bandra yard but those trains which terminate here and start after a few hours are maintained on platforms 1, 2 and 3. These trains include Jaipur-Bandra Express, Bikaner-Ranakpur Express, Sayajee Nagri-Surya Nagri Express and Udaipur Express.
In spite of several complaints, the commercial and engineering departments of Mumbai division did not pay any heed. On June 20, members of the Mumbai division branch of the Western Railway Mazdoor Sangh staged an agitation by halting trains for 20 minutes.
After the agitation, the Station Superintendent said, "As discussed with the union representatives, the garbage will be removed within three days, using 18 labourers."
"To remove the garbage and muck, a contract has been given. As per the contract, the contractor is supposed to depute around 44 workers but has deputed only 15," said a mechanical department staff.
According to Ajay Singh, Divisional Secretary, WRMS, "Only 20 per cent work has been done. Parmar's accident is a live example of the situation."
He added, "I have sent a letter to CP Sharma, Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai Division, WR, on Wednesday. On many occasions, I have brought this problem to the notice of the administration. WRMS will not hesitate to resort to agitation, if work is not completed within seven days."
When contacted, CP Sharma said, "I have received the letter and have spoken to the union representatives. Concerned departments have deputed people for cleaning the tracks and drains."
On Tue, Apr 15, 2008 at 5:47 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,Related reports on the Clean Up! campaign, and the new suburban trains for Mumbai.This picture shows a passenger spitting out from a window, on what is evidently one of the new trains, at least from the grill and seat colours, etc.See the highlighted portions.Also, apart from the other faetures, trains have to have litter bins / waste boxes, and simultaneously, station platform stall must stop selling pacakaged single use consumable items like pan masala / gutkha / sweets / lozenge / biscuit packets altogether to minimise generation of waste.After all, those who need to purchase these non critical items can do so outside the stations.There is also a possibility of FM being broadcast on boardThe system should be made to broadcast public service Clean Up! messages equally frequently in all languages.Such arrangements can be the tipping point.Jagdeep DESAIArchitectSecretaryFounder TrusteeForum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai / SuburbsForum for IQOLMS+91 98 6922 7148PSThere is another report that seat colours on suburban trains would be changed from blue to brown, to 'hide' stains and dirt!Truly illogical!Instead of 'hiding' these things, efforts must be made to 'Clean Up!' the trains.The brown colour itself is less attractive in the first place, less bright, and generally dull, and drab, dark, dingy, and gloomy, and so on.This was the colour earlier, in the second and third class compartments, with dark brown seats, dark yellow craem side walls, yellow lighting.The bright colourts are blue, green, grey, violet, etc.>>>This is also in reference to the report on forced ventilation for suburban railway coaches
http://epapers2.mid-day.com/midday/scripts/epaper/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=9/19/2006
It's unfortunate that railways want to spend money on electro mechanical devices which lend itself to possible failure and subsequent maintenance, or lack of it.
It is obvious that ventilation is a problem in the over crowded coaches, particularly when it is raining, the windows and doors are shut.
However even otherwise, it does not seem too wise to blow air down onto the hot and sweaty passengers, remember hot air rises.
As a designer, I would much rather utilise the movement of the train to draw / force in air, from the lower portion of the coach, and let natural convection take it up, and vent it out the upper portion.
Specifically, a louvred inlet angled upwards towards the inside of the coach, with grill, in line fo the windows, approximately 450 mm * 150 mm just above the floor level as the inlet.
Even a grill / jaali floor plate below the seats which would enable air to flow inwards and upwards from under while the train is in motion and speed.
This will serve the purpose of drainage also when the coaches are washed from inside.
For venting the hot air when most windows and doors are closed, another louvred opening, also grilled, exactly above and in line of the windows, at the junction between the side wall and roof should be introduced.
These opening will be in open condition through out even when all openings are shut.
Fans should be placed at angles on the side walls, so that these direct the air towards the exhaust, rather than as at present, blowing hot air down onto our heads.
Another inappropriate design is the introduction of grills to apparently counter the possibility of objects being thrown into the coach by miscreants and anti socials.
This is nothing but cutting the nose to spite the face.
If we need to minimise this kind of activity, apart from better policing, vigilance, preventing loafers on stations and along tracks, etc., the windows should be made to open up to down, not down to up.
The fixed portion, if on the lower half, would easily prevent faces / heads / eyes of seated passengers from such objects thrown from outside.
This would obviate the need to put suffocating grills on the windows, and what is more, 'force' those who want to throw, or spit out, to literally and physically stand up in front of everyone, and 'do' the needful.
>>>New local trains for city still long way off
Devraj Dasgupta | TNN
Mumbai: Mumbaikars who had hoped that the new suburban trains being procured under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) would ease their commute will be disappointed to know that the project is on the slow track. Instead of the projected supply of four trains every month, Mumbai will be lucky to get just one per month at least until September, sources in the railways told TOI.
The delivery schedule of the new trains has been badly hit due to inadequate assembly lines, shortage of wheels and trained manpower at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai. A team from the World Bank, the lead financers of the MUTP project, conveyed their disappointment with the slow production schedule during a visit to ICF, Chennai, last week.
Hubert Nove Josserand, the World Bank official in charge of the MUTP project, confirmed to TOI that his team was "not very happy'' with the manufacturing pace at ICF. "They had promised four trains per month once the prototypes were over. But things are definitely not going as per schedule—ICF is not ready for four rakes a month,'' said Josserand on Monday.
However, he was quick to add that the railways could still catch up with their promise by expediting the assembly process. "We leave it to them on how to deliver four trains per month. Although things are not out of control, we are concerned,'' he added.
With four new trains, Mumbai could have got 70 to 80 additional services every month. With just one train expected every month, this will now be limited to 18 to 20 services in a month on either WR or CR.
Sources in the railways said that ICF had a limited capacity for manufacturing the high-end suburban coaches being made under MUTP. "They have only two assembly lines as of now,'' said an official. However, the bigger problem is that ICF does not have wheels for the coaches. Moreover, the fact that the new age trains involve a much higher level of electrical and electronic equipment only adds to the slow pace of assembly at ICF.
ON THE SLOW TRACK: Production problems at Chennai's Integral Coach Factory mean there's no way they can deliver four new rakes a month to Mumbai as promised
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