The Western Railway is unable to control garbage dumping inside its own premises. The ground-plus-one storey slums next to Mahalaxmi carshed, where trains are cleaned and washed, have become a mini dumping ground. Such is the situation when WR is claiming to have undertaken an extensive pre-monsoon cleaning which also includes removal of muck and garbage from tracks.
The Mahalaxmi carshed is located between Mumbai Central and Mahalaxmi railway stations. Along the west side of this carshed, there are several slums in a row which share a boundary with it. In fact, the situation has gone to the extent that WR's senior-most officer – General Manager AK Gupta – checked this stretch of rail lines where garbage and filth have been dumped during his inspection of Mahalaxmi carshed.
Sources in WR said that it has become very difficult for their staff not just to clean the trains but also walk on tracks as it is covered with garbage. "There is a need not just for counselling these people staying in these hutments but also take action for polluting rail premises," said a WR official.
On the other hand, the WR authorities claim that they are taking utmost care to ensure train services are not affected this monsoon. For this, they are cleaning culverts and drainages which are filled with muck and filth.
"Of the 53 culverts existing in Churchgate-Virar section, first round of desilting in 37 culverts has been completed, while balance 16 shall be completed by May 20," said Ravinder Bhakar, Chief PRO, Western Railway.
Adopting tech
Indian Metrological Department is going to install Automatic Rain-Gauge at 6 stations namely Ram Mandir, Mahalaxmi, Bandra, Dahisar, Mira Road and Bhayander to do real time online monitoring of rain
