Mumbai local train travel becoming unsafe due to rise in violent incidents: Congress MP Gaikwad

Mumbai, Jul 16 (PTI) Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad on Thursday alleged that suburban train travel in the metropolis has become increasingly unsafe due to a rise in incidents of assault, murder and crimes against women. In a statement here, she accused the Maharashtra government and Railway authorities of failing to ensure safety of passengers on Mumbai's transport "lifeline". The Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North Central noted commuters were already forced to travel in overcrowded trains, and the recent increase in violent incidents had made suburban rail travel even more hazardous. She referred to recent incidents, including the murder of a young passenger in a local train last month following a knife attack, another stabbing near a station over a minor dispute, and assault on a commuter in a Central Railway suburban service near Ambernath in adjoining Thane district. Claiming that Railway authorities had failed to take effective preventive measures, Gaikwad alleged that people carrying sharp weapons were able to move freely in suburban trains and that women passengers also felt increasingly insecure. She said inquiries are initiated after every incident, but there is little follow-up to prevent recurrence. The Congress leader said several meetings had been held with Railway officials on commuter safety, but claimed that concerns raised by public representatives had not been adequately addressed. The Lok Sabha member insisted the commuter safety issue had been repeatedly raised in Parliament also without eliciting a satisfactory response from the government. Alleging that the government and Railway administration were indifferent to the safety of millions of daily commuters in the Mumbai region, Gaikwad said the Congress would again raise the issue of suburban railway safety in Parliament, which will have its monsoon session from July 20. A woman allegedly used pepper spray against other female commuters during a quarrel over a seat in a suburban train on Thursday morning, while three men suffered injuries in a separate violent altercation on another train in the Mumbai region. The pepper spray incident took place in the first-class ladies compartment of a local train during morning rush hours, said a Central Railway official. Earlier, a brawl broke out in the luggage compartment of Parel-Ambernath train at around 12.30 am and three men were injured, said Kalyan GRP senior inspector Archana Dusane. The trio fought over sharing a seat when the train was between Dombivli and Thakurli stations in Thane district. The injuries were caused by the metal 'kada' or bangle worn by one of them, officials said. PTI MR RSY