Women commuters raise safety issues while travelling in suburban trains in Navi Mumbai

This picture has been used for representational purpose. Pic/Ashish Raje

According to Indian Railways, around eight lakh women travel by train in Mumbai daily. But the safety and security of women has always been a troublesome issue for the railway authorities.

A large number of women commuters from Navi Mumbai who travel on the harbour and trans-harbour lines during the odd hours have admitted that they do not feel safe inside the trains as well as on the platforms due to insufficient security, anti-social elements outside the stations or lack of safety walls at some stations.

Nerul, which sees a footfall of 60,000 people and is one of the busiest stations in Navi Mumbai. The station has a liquor shop on its West side. The commuters have alleged that some people drink liquor outside that shop and lie down near the platforms.

According to a Hindustan Times report, Jyothika P, a 31-year-old resident of Ulwe, has urged police authorities to take stern action against drunkards. "On several occasions, I have seen drunkards lying near the platforms and outside the station. The police should take stern action against such people," said Jyothika.

The story is no different at Juinagar and Sanpada stations. As the commuters often come across commercial sex workers in the evenings. According to female commuters, sex workers may not be a threat to the safety of the women commuters, but the men who go to them are.

On the other hand, the Vashi station has two underpasses. However, people can also illegally enter the platforms from the sides due to the lack of such walls. "The criminals know these loopholes and, thus, can easily run away through those routes after snatching a chain, mobile phone or a bag from the commuters. This station also does not have lights at several places," said Upasana Sharma, a 35-year-old resident of Vashi.

There is also a menace of fatka gangs on the trans-harbour line, which connects Navi Mumbai and Thane.

From January to November this year, Vashi GRP registered a total of 167 FIRs and one of them was of sexual assault on a woman from January to November this year. Meanwhile, the Panvel GRP has filed 286 FIRs in the corresponding period and two cases were of sexual assaults.

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Vishnu Kesarkar, a senior inspector of Vashi GRP, said, "This week, we have received 175 home guards and have increased patrolling in the trains as well as on the platforms. We are aware of the issue of the drunkards at Nerul station and have registered multiple FIRs against those people so far. Recently, we also arrested a few people who were illegally selling liquor outside Nerul station at night and seized liquor worth Rs 25,000 from them. We also inform the city police if we get to know about the existence of anti-social elements outside our jurisdiction."

Bhakti Dave, President of Panvel Pravasi Sangh, has urged the authorities to provide more women police officials as in an empty compartment, female commuters hesitate to approach male GRP officials while travelling at night.

It is to be noted that CIDCO is responsible for the maintenance of the station premises and their lighting systems.