Pravasi Sangh Demands Probe After Four Commuters Fall From Trains in Kalwa
Commuter safety concerns have resurfaced in the Kalwa-Mumbra section near Thane after a passenger association reported that four commuters fell from running local trains at the same spot over a three-day span. The Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh has demanded an immediate investigation into the incidents and warned of public protests if railway authorities fail to take corrective action within 15 days.
The passenger body alleged that extreme overcrowding, combined with track issues where passengers reported experiencing sudden jerks, has turned the stretch near the Kalwa Carshed into a danger zone. The association also claimed that the closure of commuter access to trains heading toward the Kalwa Carshed has exacerbated overcrowding and increased safety hazards along the tracks.
Central Railway has disputed the association's claims, asserting that only one incident of a commuter falling from a train had been reported a few days earlier. Railway authorities stated that commuters had previously been using the Carshed lines without authorization to board trains, adding that this practice has now been firmly halted.
Following the complaint, Central Railway instructed officials to look into the matter and consulted the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) regarding the reported falls. The administration requested the Pravasi Sangh to report any future incidents immediately while noting that passenger associations had at times been involved in organizing or participating in unauthorized boarding practices.
The recent incidents have also revived demands to reopen the historic Parsik Station as a suburban halt to ease dangerous congestion. At a Suburban Railway Users' Consultative Committee (SRUCC) meeting on July 24, passenger representative Siddhesh Desai urged railway officials to carry out a feasibility study, prompting the Principal Chief Operations Manager (PCOM) to instruct the division to examine the proposal.
Desai noted that the absence of a designated station along the long Kalwa-Mumbra stretch forces local commuters to board Carshed-bound services or travel to Thane to catch trains, creating severe crowding and safety risks at Thane station. Citing Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) records, Desai noted that Parsik Point served as the final stop for India's first trial train in November 1852, arguing that reopening the stop would preserve heritage while reducing commuter hardships.
Central Railway previously rejected demands to permit commuters into the Kalwa Carshed, citing strict safety and security restrictions for operational rail yards. To curb unauthorized track crossing, the railway is constructing a pedestrian bridge linking Kalwa West to Kalwa station, after which safety walls will be fully sealed. Authorities are also lengthening platforms at Kalwa to accommodate additional 15-coach suburban trains while deploying RPF personnel for peak-hour crowd management.
