Mumbai Rail Safety Push: Activist Samir Zaveri Demands 18-Coach Trains, Medical Rooms at All Stations; Cites 2024 Fatalities & Delays

Mumbai: Samir Zaveri, a railway accident survivor and dedicated RTI activist, has urged Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to implement critical safety upgrades for Mumbai’s suburban rail network, including the introduction of 18-coach local trains to ease overcrowding.

Serving over 7 million daily commuters, Mumbai’s local trains primarily operate with 12 coaches, with some extended to 15. Zaveri argues that 18-coach trains are essential to reduce congestion, a major factor in accidents. In a letter dated June 27, 2025, he cited 2024 data showing 2,477 deaths and 2,697 injuries on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s suburban rail network, largely due to overcrowding and unsafe boarding conditions.

Zaveri, who lost both legs in a rail accident, pointed to the Railway Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO)’s 2008-09 approval for 18-coach EMU trains, attaching the document to his letter to highlight the long-delayed implementation. “With nearly 75 lakh daily commuters, extending platforms for 18-coach trains is a vital safety measure,” he wrote, noting that long-distance trains with up to 25 coaches already run on these tracks. He stressed that the upgrade requires only administrative action, not technical innovation.

The activist also flagged inadequate emergency medical facilities, referencing a Bombay High Court order from PIL No. 50 of 2008, which mandates medical rooms and round-the-clock doctors at all suburban stations, along with 108 ambulance services. Zaveri noted that while Western Railway has ambulances at all 32 stations from Churchgate to Virar, Central Railway’s compliance is limited. In a June 19, 2025, letter, he reiterated the need for medical rooms at every station to meet court guidelines.

A senior Central Railway official, when contacted, said ambulances are stationed where space permits, and contracts with nearby hospitals ensure treatment for injured passengers.

Zaveri further called for modernizing Mumbai’s rail signaling with Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) to boost train frequency from every 3 minutes to as low as 1 minute. He also urged better oversight of funds allocated under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), where the Maharashtra government covers 50% of costs for new trains and infrastructure.

Additionally, Zaveri proposed automatic fire detection and suppression systems on trains to enhance passenger safety and prevent future tragedies.