All Departments Must Work Together to Prevent Potential Accidents – Chief Secretary Sujata SaunikPublic Safety Must Be Given Top Priority, Orders Issued

Mumbai : The recent spate of accidents across the state, resulting in the loss of innocent lives, is deeply unfortunate. In light of this, Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik has directed that all departments work in coordination to prevent potential accidents by giving topmost priority to citizen safety. She also instructed the issuance of guidelines for passengers to help avoid rail-related accidents.

Following the tragic death of passengers who fell from local trains in Mumbai recently, the Chief Secretary convened a high-level meeting with officials from the railways, metro services, police, municipal corporations, and administrative bodies to discuss urgent safety measures for commuters and strategies to prevent further mishaps.

Chief Secretary Saunik emphasized the need for heightened alertness, especially during the monsoon season and upcoming festive periods. She suggested that the Railways appoint a nodal officer for this duration and, if necessary, enlist the help of retired and expert officers. She recommended that advisory guidelines be developed for passengers using railways and metro services.

At high-traffic locations, she urged the use of display boards, announcement systems, social media platforms, and FM radio to disseminate important safety messages. Measures must be taken to ensure local train doors remain closed during transit. Additionally, a siren system similar to elevators should be activated when overcrowding occurs. She also highlighted the need for extra vigilance during heavy rainfall and high tide events.

To avoid the spread of misinformation during emergencies, she instructed that accurate and timely information be shared with the public, and that swift action be taken. She further directed that baggage scanners be installed at all railway stations, and unattended bags and waste be removed immediately. She stressed that railway officials should review CCTV footage and, in collaboration with the police force and AI-based technologies, take immediate steps to ensure commuter safety.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary of the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations Brijesh Singh, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satya Narayan, Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rubal Agarwal, Additional Commissioner of BMC Abhijit Bangar, along with senior officials from the Railways, Revenue, Home, Transport, and Urban Development departments.

Principal Secretary Brijesh Singh stressed the importance of targeted dissemination of safety information in vulnerable areas, and emphasized that all communication platforms must relay consistent and unified messages to ensure public awareness and preparedness.