The Mumbai division of Central Railway conducted a trial run of automatic doors on non-air-conditioned local trains at the Kurla car shed on September 30.
Mesh has been used to keep the air flowing through the doors of this local. The Railway Ministry is planning to start non-air-conditioned local trains with automatic doors in Mumbai by the end of December.
In June, five passengers died and eight were injured after falling from the Kasara-CSMT and CSMT-Karjat local trains in the Mumbra station area.
The passenger had fallen while hanging from the door while travelling. Following this accident, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav was instructed to install automatic doors in new air-conditioned local trains and non-air-conditioned local trains currently in service.
Accordingly, automatic doors have been implemented in the ladies' compartment of a local on a pilot basis. Central Railway General Manager Dharam Veer Meena was present during the trial.
When these doors are closed, a mesh has been installed at the bottom of the door to keep the air moving. Glass has been used at the top. There are valves in the middle of the door, which have been installed in such a way that water does not enter during the rainy season.
Railway officials have informed that the doors of these non-air-conditioned trains have been arranged to open and close within 10 seconds, similar to the time of air-conditioned local trains, and to sound an alarm when moving.
In August, automatic doors were installed in a local general class coach at Kurla Car Shed. This time, the doors were made of mesh.
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In comparison, arrangements have been made in the modified doors to allow more air circulation. Railway officials clarified that a decision has not yet been taken to make the doors of the entire local (Mumbai local) on this basis.