Female GRP staff fear office location

A senior Government Railway Police (GRP) officer has written to Western Railway (WR) stating that the location of a GRP office at Mumbai Central poses safety risks not just to women commuters who wish to lodge complaints at the office, but also to female GRP staff manning the office.

In a letter written last month to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of WR, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, GRP, has stated that not only is it unsafe for commuters to visit the DCP West Zone, GRP office at Mumbai Central, even female GRP staffers feel insecure as the office is situated at an isolated place. The GRP has asked for a new office space.

The DCP office located outside Mumbai Central Railway station passes through the isolated Coach Care Centre of WR. The road is pitch dark in the evening, making it unsafe for female commuters, visitors and also the policewomen working in the ground-plus-one dilapidated structure.

DNA accessed the letter addressed to the DRM WR Mukul Jain, General Manager and senior Railway Police officers. It contains photos of the isolated stretch and of garbage collected from the coaches which is dumped by the WR near the DCP office.Turn to P4

The letter states, "DCP Railway (West) has its jurisdiction from Churchgate to Bordi Railway station. So, many visitors, including women, come to DCP office for help/grievances. It makes it difficult for ladies to reach this office through such area, which is risky for women's safety. The same condition is faced by the ladies staff of this office."

The letter contains photographs of the isolated stretch and of garbage collected from the coaches which is dumped by the WR near the DCP office.

"We feel unsafe to walk on the stretch which has labourers and rag pickers outside the railway station. Moreover, we always find men standing suspiciously outside the station. We dread taking night shifts as it might lead to some untoward incident. Such is the irony that while we are responsible for safety of commuters, we ourselves feel unsafe in the premise. We demand a safer working place from the authorities," said a female officer working with GRP.

DCP Purshottam Karad, GRP, said, "The condition of the building is bad and we have received complaints from our lady officers that the stretch is risky for women's safety. We have requested the WR to allocate us a new office space as early as possible. The building is in dangerous condition and it is important that the female commuters feel safe while approaching us."

However, when approached for comment on the issue, DRM WR Mukul Jain, said, "It is untrue that female officers or commuters feel unsafe as there is a Railway Protection Force check-post and it's a safe area. We are also conducting repairs on the old building. I do not think it is a problem which needs attention."