CHENNAI: In order to curb the footboard travel in trains, the Southern Railway has decided to cancel the railway passes and season tickets of passengers who travel on footboard in trains in Tamil Nadu.
The decision was taken on Monday in the aftermath of the accident that took place on June 25, in which five rail passengers travelling on footboard of a fully crowded EMU train were killed after hitting a concrete fence at St Thomas Mount station.
“All types of passes including college student concession passes issued by the Railways, passes carried by wards of railway employees and regular season tickets will be cancelled if a person found travelling on footboard,” Louis Amuthan, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF, Chennai told Express.
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According to official records, between January 1, 2016 and June 30 this year, footboard travel claimed the lives of 191 persons across the Southern Railway. During this period, the RPF has apprehended about 18,414 footboard travellers and collected a fine of `49.51 lakh.
“Majority of footboard travellers are college students and office-going youngsters. Railway passes of college students who are travelling on footboard will be confiscated and information will be given to the colleges concerned, which will be asked not to recommend such students for student passes. This means that once a student is caught for footboard travel, he or she will not be eligible to student railway passes,” said Amuthan, adding that the regular season tickets would also be confiscated from those who are hanging on the foot-board.
The Chennai suburban railway system caters for about 11.5 lakh passengers a day in four sections.
Naina Masilamani, a member of the Divisional Rail Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC), Chennai, said that before implementing such a move, the Railways should increase the frequency of trains during rush hour.
On Monday, Southern Circle Railway Safety Commissioner K A Manoharan conducted a public hearing in connection with the St Thomas Mount accident, at the Chennai divisional office. A railway official told Express that a decision on increasing the frequency of regular EMU trains and other operational changes would be taken based on the recommendations from the Railway Safety Commissioner.
`49.51 lakh as fine
Between January 1, 2016 and June 30 this year, footboard travel claimed the lives of 191 persons across the Southern Railway. The RPF apprehended about 18,414 footboard travellers and collected fine of `49.51 lakh