Mumbai News: RTI Activist Samir Zaveri Demands 18-Coach Local Trains, Medical Rooms At All Suburban Stations; Flags 2024 Rail Fatalities And Infrastructure Delays
Mumbai: In a heartfelt appeal to prevent further loss of life on Mumbai’s bustling suburban rail network, railway accident survivor and passengers activist Samir Zaveri has written to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding urgent reforms — foremost among them, the introduction of 18- coach local trains.
Mumbai’s local trains are the lifeline for over 7 million commuters daily. Currently, the majority of trains operate with 12 coaches, while a limited number run with 15. Zaveri emphasized that the transition to 18 -coach trains is a critical step toward alleviating severe overcrowding, which has long been a cause of accidents and fatalities.
In his letter on dated 27June, Zaveri cited alarming statistics from 2024, when 2,477 people lost their lives and 2,697 were injured in accidents across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s (MMR) suburban railway network. Many of these incidents were attributed to overcrowding, people falling off moving trains, or attempting to board and alight in unsafe conditions.
Zaveri, a 90% disabled individual who lost both legs in a railway accident, cited the Railway Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO)’s technical approval for 18-coach EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) trains way back in 2008-09. He attached a copy of the RDSO’s approval along with the letter as proof that the infrastructure upgrade has long been feasible but remains unimplemented.
“Mumbai’s local trains transport nearly 75 lakh commuters daily. Extending platforms and introducing 18-coach locals is a critical and long-pending safety measure,” wrote Zaveri, stressing that long-distance trains with up to 25 coaches already operate on the same lines. “There is no technical barrier—only administrative and political will is required.”
Zaveri also raised concerns over the lack of emergency preparedness and medical infrastructure on the Mumbai Suburban Railway Network. Referring to a Bombay High Court order in PIL No. 50 of 2008 (filed by Zaveri himself), he emphasized that every suburban station is mandated to provide emergency medical rooms with round the clock doctor and emergency medical services and 108 ambulance at every Mumbai Suburban railway stations However, only a few Central Railway stations have complied, he alleged.
He highlighted the contrast with Western Railway, where 108 ambulances are reportedly stationed across all 32 stations between Churchgate and Virar, as per his earlier letter to the Chief Minister dated June 16, 2025. In a separate letter dated June 19, 2025, he requested the Railway Minister and General Managers of Central and Western Railways to set up emergency medical rooms at every suburban station, in adherence to High Court guidelines.
When contacted a senior official of CR said, Ambulances are stationed where space is available. At many stations, contracts have been made with nearby hospitals that have adequate facilities to provide treatment to anyone who is injured or has suffered any kind of anomaly on station premises.
Zaveri also pressed for modernization of railway signaling systems in Mumbai through Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC), which he claims could increase train frequency from the current 3-minute interval to as low as 1 minute.
“The Maharashtra government already contributes 50% of the cost for new trains and components under MUTP. There is an urgent need for proper monitoring of how these funds are utilized,” he mentioned in his letter.
In addition to these demands, Zaveri recommended the immediate installation of automatic fire detection and suppression systems on trains to prevent future tragedies.
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