Why don’t commuters use FOBs?

That's the pertinent question after two youths died while crossing tracks near Pimpri railway station on Wednesday

Why don't commuters use FOBs?

That's the pertinent question after two youths died while crossing tracks near Pimpri railway station on Wednesday

The deaths of Hari Shankar Narkhede (28) and an unidentified youth while crossing the tracks near the Pimpri railway station on Wednesday highlight the fact that several commuters don't make use of foot over bridges (FOBs).

According to Harsha Shah, president of Pune Pravasi Group, commuters are at fault. "Despite announcements, notices and police action, people don't follow rules and die," she said.

And police inaction towards those who break the law doesn't help matters. But Shah said with around 185 trains passing Pune railway station with 8 lakh people travelling each day, it's impossible to manage. "What can a single GRP constable manning such a vortex of passengers do? The situation is fast going out of hand," Shah said.

Carelessness
According to the GRP at Pune railway station, it is difficult to tell whose carelessness causes such incidents. A constable on duty pointed out that only train drivers know the exact reason for the death. "Naturally they try to save their skins and we don't know the exact reasons," he said.

Added Shah, "It is really not possible to say with certainty, the number of people dying while crossing the tracks illegally. Although Pune's deaths are fewer as compared to Mumbai where around 6,000 people die each year while crossing tracks."

A close look at the railway commuters' habits will reveal that a considerable number of commuters don't care to take the FOBs.

MiD DAY photographed an FOB a few moments after the Karjat-Pune Passenger train arrived around 6 pm at Shivaji Nagar railway station. Several commuters showed little regard for the rules and didn't use the FOB.

Shah revealed that at least 150 people die every year on railway tracks between Pune and Lonavla.u00a0

"At least 124 die on the Pune-Daund section and an equal number on the Pune-Nira section," she said.