Railway minister reviews monsoon preparedness of Mumbai Railways, urges constant vigilance

MUMBAI: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conducted a review of the monsoon preparedness of both Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR), instructing officials to remain vigilant to ensure the smooth running of trains and assist passengers during emergencies.
During his visit to Mumbai on Friday, Vaishnaw held a late-night meeting with senior officials from WR and CR.
CR’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Swapnil Nila, stated, “While reviewing the preparations, the minister emphasized the need for constant alertness. He also directed authorities to address issues raised by passengers on the Rail Madad portal on priority.”
The Rail Madad Portal allows railway passengers to lodge complaints or provide suggestions online, through an app, or via SMS. It also enables them to track the live status of their complaints and give feedback based on their satisfaction with the resolution.
He said, “The portal aims to enhance the experience of railway passengers by providing swift and satisfactory complaint resolutions.”
Divisional Railway Managers of both WR and CR shared their monsoon preparedness action plans. The review included works like micro-tunneling, drone deployment, remote-controlled floating cameras for drain monitoring, and the construction of new drains and culverts.
Additionally, plans to run more suburban and long-distance trains in the near future were discussed.
Innovations, such as modifications to the muck special train and improvements to make point machines water-resistant, were also explained during the meeting.
CR’s DRM, Rajnish Goyal, said, “The concepts of the muck special train and the waterproofing of points, which were pioneered in Mumbai, will be replicated in other parts of the country.”
WR’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Vineet Abhishek, added, “Cleaning and de-silting of culverts, nullahs, and drains, clearing muck and garbage along the tracks, constructing additional waterways, installing high-power pumps, and trimming trees have been completed on a mission mode.”