Western Railway Appoints Nodal Officers to Tackle Stray Dogs from Churchgate to Borivali
Western Railway has appointed station superintendents and station masters as nodal officers to clear stray dogs from station premises along the Western Line, covering the busy suburban corridor between Churchgate and Borivali. The move comes amid rising concerns over stray dogs posing safety hazards to commuters in heavily crowded transit spaces.
The measure follows directives issued by the Supreme Court last November, which ordered the removal of stray animals from high-footfall public locations, including railway stations, bus stands, hospitals, and schools. An internal circular detailing the appointment of the nodal officers was issued roughly 10 days ago to staff across Western Railway's Mumbai Division.
Under the new directive, designated station heads are responsible for inspecting their respective premises regularly, taking steps to prevent canines from entering railway areas, and coordinating directly with civic authorities. Station heads must also maintain records of all actions taken and submit compliance reports to the divisional railway office whenever required.
To facilitate public participation, the railway administration plans to prominently display the names and contact details of these designated nodal officers at station entrance points. This will allow daily commuters to report sightings of stray dogs or raise related safety concerns directly with the station management.
Western Railway has also sent formal letters to around 25 to 30 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ward officers along the Churchgate to Borivali route to streamline operations. Previously, addressing stray dogs at stations required coordination across multiple departments, which often delayed responses to passenger complaints.
A railway official stated that it will be the civic body's responsibility to provide shelters for the dogs removed from station premises. The nodal officers will notify the respective municipal ward officers, who will then dispatch teams to collect the dogs from the stations.
Additionally, Western Railway is compiling records of passenger complaints and the total number of dogs spotted across stations to submit to civic authorities, aiming to ensure faster response times and closer monitoring at the station level.
