The Western Railway (WR) has finally erected barriers at the Malad station, keeping its promise to curb trespassing on rail tracks.

WR erected barriers days after a Newsline report highlighting the problem of trespassing at the station. A number of people have lost their lives while crossing rail tracks. According to railway sources, between January and July 20 this year, 50 accidents— 24 deaths and 26 injuries— were reported, an increase of 18 accidents from last year when 32 (17 deaths and 15 injuries ) had been reported between January and August 15. After a Newsline report on the issue, Divisional Railway Manager CP Sharma had promised to extend the divider fencing at the station.

Most of the accidents took place between platform 2 and platform 1 as commuters crossed tracks to reach their desired platform or the subway.

“Commuters were accustomed to crossing the lines at this spot. Now, with the barriers in place, they have no alternative but to use the foot overbridge. We want to thank the Railway administration for their action,” said Ruchira Jogi, a Malad resident.

“We were tired of asking people not to cross the tracks. When a train comes on platform 2 or 3, a large number of commuters cross the tracks. In such a situation it becomes very difficult to take action against all of them. However, after the extension of the fencing, most of the commuters are refraining from jumping the divider,” said a RPF constable at Malad.