Two personnel to be deployed; stationmaster will conduct rounds and inform RPF, GRP control rooms on status of illegal hawkers
Following the suspension of a Railway Protection Force (RPF) inspector, for failing to clear hawkers from the foot-overbridge (FOB) at Chembur railway station, the RPF will now deploy two personnel at stations to ensure that their jurisdiction is free of hawkers. Moreover, the stationmasters have been asked to inform the Government Railway Police (GRP) and RPF control rooms on the status of illegal hawkers to be cleared from railway premises in order to free up space for commuters.
RPF inspector Ranjeet Singh, posted at Mankhurd railway station, was suspended from duty after a video showing hawkers encroaching the station's FOB was tweeted to Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Indian Railways. As a preventive measure, the Railways have now asked the RPF to be more aggressive in keeping hawkers out of railway premises. Besides, civic bodies will play an important role as well.
A senior RPF personnel said, "We have posted two of our personnel on FOBs which are prone to hawkers blocking the walkway of commuters. Usually, when we leave the spot the hawkers return and continue their regular business. The suspension of an RPF inspector has sent a strong message to the force and we will be more aggressive henceforth."
A senior Railways officer said, "We expect the GRP and RPF to be more responsive in clearing pathways for commuters. The onus is also on the stationmaster who will face the administrator's wrath if he fails to keep hawkers away from his railway station's jurisdiction."
The measures come in the aftermath of the stampede at Elphinstone Road railway station on September 29.
...& ANALYSIS
- Strictest action must be taken against RPF for harbouring hawkers on FOBs at stations.
- Stringent laws should be made in order to restrain hawkers from entering railway premises.
- The Indian Railways should form a special team for crackdowns on hawkers to ensure that commuters do not suffer.
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