Chennai: The Madras high court has ordered notice to Southern Railway and state government on a petition seeking direction to fix safety doors in all coaches in the suburban and MRTS trains plying from Chennai to suburban areas to ensure that commuters have safe travel on trains.
The division bench comprising Justice M. Venugopal and Justice Nirmal Kumar, before which the PIL filed came up for hearing, issued notice to additional government pleader on behalf of state government and to standing counsel for railway and directed them to file reply by August 7, 2018.
Referring to July 24 mishap at St Thomas Mount railway station claimed the life of six persons, petitioner K. Sathish, advocate of Madras high court, submitted that the railway management is not taking any secured steps to prevent these accidents.
He noted that Chennai metro trains have automatic doors that close immediately after commuters egress and ingress. However, no such facility available in the suburban trains plying between Avadi and Chennai Central, Gummidipoondi to Chennai Central, Tambaram/Chengalpet to Beach railway station and Velachery to Beach railway station. As a result commuters, including students and employees, face threat to their life especially during peak hours.
He said it is duty of the railways to install the safety doors in compartments so as to prevent mishaps in future. The railways should also install safety doors on platforms to control crowds getting into busy suburban trains.
