Mumbai: Taking a serious view of the death of three persons after being hit by speeding local trains in suburban Vikhroli here, Maharashtra government on Monday asked Railways to start work on a foot overbridge in the area and to complete all such projects in a time bound banner.
"The actual work on the Vikhroli foot overbridge has to start by January 15," PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said after a meeting held at Secretariat in the backdrop of yesterday`s incident at the suburban train station.
Bhujbal said commuters have no option but to cross the railway line since there is no foot over bridge at Vikroli.
The death of three persons near Vikhroli station on Sunday sparked protests by locals leading to disruption of services of the Central Railway for nearly two hours.
"As a temporary step, security personnel should be stationed at the railway crossing to warn passengers about passing trains," the minister said.
Bhujbal said the railway administration should also start the survey work on Road Over Bridge.
Apart from Bhujbal, the meeting was attended by Home Minister RR Patil, senior police and railway officials and NGOs.
Bhujbal assured the local residents and NGOs that a joint meeting of Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and senior officials of the Railway administration would be
convened in the next 15 days.
He said the state government has the right to file criminal cases against the railway authorities concerned if they fail to take necessary precautions.
Home Minister Patil asked the railway administration to complete FOBs and ROBs at stations in a time bound manner.
Bhujbal said that in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), "on a daily basis, 11 to 12 persons die and 5 to 6 commuters lose their limbs. The railway administration should take serious note of this."
PTI
