Bombay High Court Pushes for Automatic Doors in Local Trains Amid Mounting Fatalities

Mumbai, June 20: In a strong push toward enhancing commuter safety, the Bombay High Court has urged the Central Railway to seriously consider the installation of automatic closed doors in Mumbai’s local trains. The directive follows a recent tragic accident that claimed four lives and left nine others injured due to overcrowding on a train between Diva and Mumbra on June 9.

The court’s observations came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the alarming rate of fatalities in local train travel. Justice S.G. Marne highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that approximately 10 people die each day in train-related incidents across the city. Disturbing visuals from the recent mishap sparked public outrage and renewed calls for urgent safety measures.

Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Marne called for proactive steps, emphasizing the urgent need for automatic doors as a viable solution to curb accidents caused by overcrowding and open-door travel. The court also underscored the objective of reaching “Zero Deaths” in suburban railway operations.

Responding to the court’s concerns, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh outlined several measures already undertaken, including the formation of a multi-disciplinary safety committee post the June 9 accident, installation of track dividers, and efforts to decongest platforms. However, the bench observed that these steps fall short of preventing fatal falls from moving trains.

The judges have asked the petitioner to submit concrete safety suggestions to the committee and have directed Central Railway to present an update on committee composition and an actionable safety plan at the next hearing on July 14.

With the judiciary closely monitoring the issue, Mumbai’s lifeline — the suburban railway network — may finally see long-pending upgrades to passenger safety systems. The court’s firm stance has raised hopes for tangible reforms, as citizens await the implementation of measures that can save lives on one of the world’s busiest rail networks.