Government Railway Police gears up to ensure a safe Holi for commuters

The government railway police (GRP), in order to make Holi safe for commuters, have identified various water balloon-pelting spots across the suburban railways. The GRP have already started sensitisation drives in the residential areas that are adjacent to railway tracks.

According to the GRP, they have identified Kurla, Sion, Thane, Mumbra, Diva, Kalyan, Andheri, Sewri and Bandra as some of the spots that would be under the watchful eyes of their personnel for any kind of water balloon pelting incident.

Every year, there are complaints about children living in the slums adjacent to the tracks pelting water balloons on trains on Holi. This year, the GRP are taking a serious note of the issue and have already chalked out detailed plans to deal with the menace.

"We have conducted studies from past incidents, and on the basis of those, identified the spots. We will be keeping a strict vigil on Holi, so that no commuter faces any kind of inconvenience," said GRP commissioner Ravinder Singal.

"We have already cancelled leaves of our men, all will be on duty on Holi, besides additional force being deployed."

In an attempt to sensitise people living near the railway tracks, GRP officers have roped in influential residents of the area to create awareness. "Our officers have already started visiting the identified areas and conducted meetings with the locals to create awareness on the hazards of balloon pelting," said Singal.