Over 2000 Commuter Deaths on Mumbai Suburban Rail in 2024; Government Highlights Ongoing Safety and Infrastructure Push
Reported by Akshata Pawar
New Delhi/Mumbai, 23rd July 2025: A total of 2,282 commuter deaths were reported on Mumbai’s suburban railway network in 2024, the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Of these fatalities, 1,408 were recorded in Mumbai district alone, followed by 615 in Thane, 131 in Navi Mumbai, and 128 in Raigad, largely due to trespassing, falling from running trains, pole-hitting incidents, and gaps between platforms and trains.
This data was disclosed in response to a parliamentary query by MP Sasikanth Senthil regarding commuter safety on Mumbai’s lifeline—the suburban railway network.
Addressing concerns over a recent fatal incident at Mumbra station, the Ministry of Railways stated that a committee has been constituted to investigate the accident that involved commuters falling from a moving local train. The official response did not include the findings yet, but emphasized that measures are being undertaken to prevent such occurrences.
AC Local Trains Show Promise in Reducing Accidents
The introduction of AC local trains equipped with automatic doors has been cited as a key measure to curb overcrowding and prevent accidents. These automatic doors remain closed while the train is in motion, restricting footboard travel and reducing falls from moving trains—a leading cause of fatalities.
While no official audit or comprehensive assessment was shared, the Railways Ministry described the new AC locals as a “welcome initiative” contributing to commuter safety.
The Ministry also shared a list of key infrastructure projects sanctioned under various phases of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). These include:
Project Length (km) Cost (₹ Cr.)
CSMT-Kurla 5th & 6th Line 17.5 891
Mumbai Central-Borivali 6th Line 30 919
Goregaon-Borivali Harbour Line extension 7 826
Borivali-Virar 5th & 6th Line 26 2,184
Virar-Dahanu 3rd & 4th Line 64 3,587
Panvel-Karjat Corridor 29.6 2,782
Airoli-Kalwa Elevated Corridor 3.3 476
Kalyan-Asangaon 4th Line 32 1,759
Kalyan-Badlapur 3rd & 4th Line 14 1,510
Kalyan-Kasara 3rd Line 67 793
Naigaon-Juichandra Double Chord 6 176
Nilaje-Kopar Double Chord 5 338
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme:
As part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, the government has identified 1,337 railway stations for modernisation across India, 132 of them in Maharashtra. The plan envisions long-term upgrades like improved passenger amenities, better accessibility, landscaping, business lounges, and multimodal integration.
The government reported that expenditure on safety-related railway activities rose to ₹1,16,470 crore in FY 2025–26, up from ₹39,463 crore in 2013–14. Key allocations include:
-₹23,316 Cr for permanent way & works
-₹22,800 Cr for track renewals
-₹30,666 Cr for motive power & rolling stock
-₹6,800 Cr for signal and telecom works
Indian Railways also detailed multiple long-term safety upgrades:
-25,939 Fog Safety Devices installed (up from just 90 in 2014)
-28,301 Thick Web Switches deployed (none in 2014)
-Interlocking systems at 6,635 stations and level crossing gates at 11,096 locations
-Complete track circuiting at 6,640 stations
-Kavach (anti-collision system) work completed on 2,200 route-km; trials ongoing on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors
From FY 2013–14 to FY 2024–25:
-Weld failures dropped by 90% (from 3,699 to 370)
-Rail fractures reduced by 88% (from 2,548 to 289)
-Manufacture of safer LHB coaches rose from 2,337 to 42,677 coaches
