“Ten Deaths a Day Is Unacceptable”: Bombay High Court Urges Automatic Doors in Mumbai Locals for Commuter Safety

Mumbai: In a significant push for enhanced passenger safety, the Bombay High Court has urged Central Railways to consider installing automatic closed doors in local trains, citing the alarming number of daily fatalities due to overcrowding and accidental falls. The court’s observation comes in the wake of a tragic incident near Thane, where four people lost their lives and nine were injured after falling off a crowded train between Diva and Mumbra on June 9.

Disturbing visuals from the scene triggered widespread outrage and renewed demands for improved safety on Mumbai’s lifeline — the suburban rail network. During the hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning commuter safety, Justice Marne noted that around ten people die every day in train-related accidents in the Mumbai metropolitan region.

“This figure is simply unacceptable. We must take this issue seriously and work toward a ‘Zero Deaths’ goal,” remarked Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, who supported the idea of automatic door mechanisms in local trains, especially on high-density routes.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the Central Railways, informed the court that several preventive steps have been initiated post the June tragedy. These include:

• Formation of a multi-disciplinary safety committee
• Installation of track dividers
• Measures to reduce platform congestion

However, the court observed that more immediate and impactful measures were needed to prevent falls from moving trains — the leading cause of death on Mumbai’s suburban network.

The judges directed the petitioner to submit concrete safety suggestions to the newly formed committee and instructed the Railways to present an action plan in the next hearing, scheduled for July 14. The court has asked for details on committee members, timelines, and implementation strategies for proposed safety upgrades.