A social audit on the Mumbai suburban rail network found that the killer distance between railway station platforms and railway footboard continues to exist on 93 per cent of stations.
“We chose ten suburban railway stations on Central, Harbour and Western lines to do a first ever social audit of the suburban railway network which highlighted various issues that need to be dealt with full willpower and commitment,” Moneylife Foundation’s Sucheta Dalal said.
“Hawkers and beggars were found on foot overbridges at 53 per cent of stations and 57 per cent of railway stations do not have railings to prevent crossing of tracks,” the report stated.
“Sixty three per cent of railway stations had ambulances parked outside premises and only 17 per cent of stations had an acceptable level of sanitation. Most stations did not have adequate signage. However, there are many large and colourful advertisements and hoardings,” the report said.
“The report is a feedback from citizens and commuters from Mumbai and hence we placed it in public domain as well as submitted it to the railway minister, besides general managers of Central Railway and Western Railway,” Dalal said.
The social audit was carried out with the help of two foreign students namely Ricky Vella and Leanne H Truong from the University of Western Sydney in Australia, with help from railway activists.
Samir Jhaveri, a railway activist who is part of the Safe Rail Group, run by the Moneylife Foundation, said, “This report shows the clear picture of the suburban railway system and railway officers must act accordingly”.
