Mumbai Local Train Safety: Automatic Door Closing System to Be Implemented After Diva-Mumbra Accident

In a major move aimed at improving commuter safety, the Railway Board has announced that all new Mumbai local train coaches will now be equipped with an automatic door closing system. This decision follows a tragic accident on Monday morning between Diva and Mumbra stations in Thane district, which claimed the lives of five passengers and left several others injured.

The accident occurred when two trains crossed each other on adjacent tracks. Passengers standing on the footboards lost their balance due to the impact and fell off the moving train. The incident has reignited long-standing concerns over safety in Mumbai’s overcrowded suburban railway network.

In a press release issued later the same day, the Railway Board confirmed that automatic door-closing systems will now be a standard feature in all newly manufactured suburban coaches for Mumbai. This is part of an urgent safety protocol aimed at reducing accidental deaths and injuries due to overcrowding and open doors.

Additionally, the Railway Board stated that existing coaches will also be retrofitted with this safety feature. The project is expected to be rolled out in a phased manner across all divisions of the Mumbai suburban network.

The move is being widely viewed as a crucial step toward ensuring passenger safety, especially during peak hours when local trains are packed beyond capacity. Open doors have long been a cause for concern, as many commuters are forced to hang precariously due to lack of space.

Railway officials have emphasized that this safety upgrade will significantly reduce the risk of such tragic accidents in the future, while also urging passengers to cooperate with safety regulations.

This decision marks a turning point in Mumbai's local train operations, placing passenger safety at the forefront of railway policy going forward.