Following the Mumbra train-fall tragedy, the Bombay High Court proposed installing automatic doors on Mumbai’s suburban trains, stressing the urgent need to curb the rising number of commuter fatalities and enhance passenger safety on overcrowded locals.
The Bombay High Court proposed that automatic doors be installed on Mumbai’s suburban trains to address the rising number of commuter fatalities.
During a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2024 by a daily commuter, a Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne, highlighted the alarming statistics concerning deaths on local trains.
Chief Justice Alok Aradhe stated ,
“You (Railway) should provide automatic doors that close… This is a suggestion from a layman. We are not experts,”
The Court’s concern was heightened by a tragic incident in Mumbra, where four commuters lost their lives and nine others were injured after falling from overcrowded trains during peak hours.
The Court referenced official data revealing that 3,588 individuals have died on Mumbai locals in 2024 alone, which translates to an average of 10 deaths per day.
Referring to the information provided by authorities in an affidavit, Justice Marne, remarked,
“What disturbs us is that in 2024 alone, over 3,588 deaths happened on Mumbai locals. This averages to 10 deaths per day. Which means 10 Mumbaikars die every day. This is an alarming situation,”
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh, representing the State and the Railways, informed the Court that a High-Level Committee has been established to investigate fatalities in general, and a separate multi-disciplinary panel led by the Senior Divisional Safety Officer of Central Railway is looking into the Mumbra incident.
Singh mentioned that the goal of the High-Level Committee is to achieve “zero deaths” on Mumbai locals and encouraged the petitioners to share their suggestions with the committees. However, the Court expressed doubts about the sufficiency of current measures.
Whatever the State seems to be doing is not enough as the fatalities keep happening, the Bench observed.
The Court recommended that the committees consider structural safety improvements to prevent further accidents. While ASG Singh agreed to evaluate the suggestions, he pointed out operational challenges.
He explained,
“No work can be undertaken during the hours locals are running. We need to construct partition walls and make changes to platforms. Some measures have already been taken,”
The Court subsequently directed the State and Railway authorities to provide detailed updates on both committees, including their recommendations and a timeline for implementation.
The case is set for further hearing on July 14.
During peak hours on June 9, 2025, a tragic incident occurred near Mumbra station when eight commuters, many of whom were precariously standing on footboards, fell from two fast local trains passing each other on a sharp curve. The impact caused four passengers to die on the spot, while nine others sustained injuries.
Officials found scratch marks on one of the train coaches and heard different versions from people who saw the incident. While the exact reason is still not clear, things like overcrowding, passengers brushing against each other’s bags, pushing in the crowd, and the curve of the railway track may have caused the accident.
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Later, a fifth victim, 52-year-old Anil More, succumbed to serious head injuries in the hospital, raising the death toll to five.
This accident highlights a larger safety issue on Mumbai’s suburban rail network, where 3,588 people reportedly died in train-related incidents in 2024 alone. The alarming frequency of such fatal falls has led to renewed demands for safety upgrades, including the installation of automatic doors on local trains.