Mumbai: CR plans longer halts after 10 pm for women's safety

With a view to enhance women's safety inside local trains, especially during late nights, the Central Railway (CR) authorities have proposed to increase the halt time at platforms.

At stations like Byculla, Dadar, Kurla and other major stations where trains wait for 15 seconds, the stop time could go up to 25 seconds. At smaller stations, trains halt for 10 seconds, here too the halt timing could go up by another 5 seconds or more. FIle pic for representation

As per the proposal drawn by the CR authorities, they are looking at increasing the halt time by 10 seconds at most of the stations after 10 pm and till 6 am. At stations like Byculla, Dadar, Kurla and other major stations, where trains wait for 15 seconds, the stop time could go up to 25 seconds. At smaller stations, where trains stop for 10 seconds, the halt timing could go up by another 5 seconds or more.

Sources said this is being done to provide women commuters with ample time to switch compartments. "If women see that the ladies coach is empty and they want to board the general compartment, then this would give them time to alight and enter the neighbouring compartment," said the source.

Generally, woman commuters are extremely cautious while travelling in ladies compartments after 10 pm, as the first and second class ladies compartments are sparsely crowded. Although it is mandatory, due to lack of manpower, not all ladies compartments have railway police manning them during nighttime.

Sources said increasing the stoppage time could severely affect the train schedule. Every night around 200 train services ply after 10 pm and even if the halts are extended by just of 5 seconds, it would disrupt the entire timetable.

The railway authorities are also considering the idea of having the ladies compartments at both ends of a train either next to a motorman or guard cabin. Moreover, by end of this month, the RPF is also likely to add more ground staff and beef up security.