Activists Demand Railway Action Over Unauthorised Travel in Disabled Coaches

Activists have demanded sustained intervention from railway authorities against unauthorised travel in Divyangjan coaches following the death of a disabled commuter who was pushed off a moving local train on Thursday. The fatal incident occurred after an argument over seats with an able-bodied passenger, bringing renewed attention to safety issues across key transit hubs including Thane, Ghatkopar, and Dadar stations on Central Railway.

According to data from the Railway Protection Force, over 23,000 cases of unauthorised travel in coaches reserved for persons with disabilities were registered across both Western and Central Railway networks in 2025. Despite these enforcement actions, disabled commuters continue to encounter severe difficulties boarding and exiting reserved compartments that become crowded with unauthorised commuters during peak hours.

Activist Nitin Gaikwad noted that altercations inside Divyangjan coaches are a frequent occurrence during rush hours, with disabled passengers regularly subjected to abuse, physical obstruction, and assault. Gaikwad stated that such confrontations occur with high frequency at Thane, Ghatkopar, and Dadar stations.

In July, Gaikwad submitted a formal request to railway authorities seeking the stationing of uniformed RPF personnel directly on platforms outside Divyangjan coaches to prevent unauthorised entry.

The demand follows multiple instances of violence reported inside reserved compartments. On March 27, a disabled passenger identified as Sajjad was assaulted on a Karjat fast local by a woman and her minor son after questioning their presence in the reserved coach. In another incident in May last year, a visually challenged woman was assaulted by a man following a dispute over seating on a Titwala-bound local train.