Maharashtra Govt approves 4 new Railway Police stations in Mumbai to prevent crimes

our correspondent

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Government Monday approved the setting up of four new police stations under the Railway Police in Mumbai to boost the security of passengers across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The new police stations will come up at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and the Bhayandar, Ambernath, and Asangaon railway stations as per a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Home Department. The Government Railway Police (GRP) had earlier sent a proposal to the government to set up these new police stations.

Railway Police officers said the decision to create new police stations was also taken amid the increasing passenger load in Mira Road-Bhayander and on the Mumbai suburban railway network, and the rise in crimes reported on these stretches.

The majority of the crimes reported within the Railway Police’s jurisdiction pertain to mobile and luggage or article thefts and pickpocketing. There have been instances of sexual harassment of women as well at railway stations.

On the Central Railway (CR) line, the Government Railway Police (GRP) have their station at Kasara Railway Station after Kalyan — the distance between them is 67-70 km — covering 12 stations. Similarly, towards the Pune line, the next railway police station after Kalyan is in Karjat, which is 46 km away.

On the Western Railway (WR) line, the distance between Borivali GRP station and Vasai GRP station is 17 km. The Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) or Kurla Terminus has emerged as a major passenger hub for outstation trains which sees large crowds. Currently, the Kurla Railway Police Station is in charge of security at the terminus which is about half a kilometre away.

While GRP, under the state government, handles cases of daily crimes on these platforms, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) which comes under the Centre is also present at railway stations.