New Delhi: Railways is mulling installing automatic doors in AC coaches of some premier trains, on the lines of those in Metro, to enhance passengers' safety and check criminal activities on board running trains.
The new system will be controlled by the driver or guard from his cabin and with his command, all the doors will automatically open when train arrives at station, and close when it departs. Currently, train doors are opened and closed manually.
"Train will not move unless all the doors are closed in the automatic door system. The driver and the guard will have command control of the system at their cabins," a senior Railway Ministry official said.
A meeting of the Railway Board was held last week to finalise the proposal for introducing automatic doors system in trains.
"RDSO (Research Design and Standards Organisation) is finalising the specifications for the system to be fitted in a rake of 20 AC coaches in the Rail Coach Factory at Kapurthala as a pilot project," the official said.
However, the official said, "Before equipping the first rake with the system, a non-AC coach in Delhi Division will be made operational with the automatic closing door system for trial purpose."
Several lives have been lost with passengers falling off running trains while standing on foot-board.
According to the official, Allahabad High Court had directed Railways to install automatic doors in passenger coaches to prevent passengers from falling off running trains. Railways had appealed to the Supreme Court against the order, but the apex court had upheld the High Court decision.
Railways is planning to install the automatic door system in all mail and express trains. "The system is being considered as more safe in long-distance super fast trains to ensure foolproof safety to passengers. Besides, the new system will also help in curbing criminal activities on running trains," the official said.
Besides Metro trains, high speed trains in foreign countries have automatic doors in each coach.
"It has been noticed that passengers travel on foot-board or standing at door while undertaking journey by trains though it is not permitted. So, the proposed system will be effective in checking mishaps and criminal activities on running trains," he said.
As Railways is actively considering to increase speed of passengers trains, the new technology of automatic doors is expected to be installed in all such trains.
The new system will be controlled by the driver or guard from his cabin and with his command, all the doors will automatically open when train arrives at station, and close when it departs. Currently, train doors are opened and closed manually.
"Train will not move unless all the doors are closed in the automatic door system. The driver and the guard will have command control of the system at their cabins," a senior Railway Ministry official said.
"RDSO (Research Design and Standards Organisation) is finalising the specifications for the system to be fitted in a rake of 20 AC coaches in the Rail Coach Factory at Kapurthala as a pilot project," the official said.
Advertisement
Several lives have been lost with passengers falling off running trains while standing on foot-board.
Advertisement
Railways is planning to install the automatic door system in all mail and express trains. "The system is being considered as more safe in long-distance super fast trains to ensure foolproof safety to passengers. Besides, the new system will also help in curbing criminal activities on running trains," the official said.
Advertisement
"It has been noticed that passengers travel on foot-board or standing at door while undertaking journey by trains though it is not permitted. So, the proposed system will be effective in checking mishaps and criminal activities on running trains," he said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Top Court Concerned Over Political Influence, Revives Murder Case Against Ex MLA Supreme Court To Hear Petitions Relating To NEET-UG Controversy Tomorrow Delhi Government Must Take Blame For Permission To Fell 422 Trees: Supreme Court Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Trainee IAS Summoned By Pune Cops Over Harassment Claims Against Collector Maharashtra Government Declares Job Training And Stipend Scheme Three Indians On Global Student Prize 2024 Top 50 shortlist Prime Accused In INDIA's Bihar Ally's Brutal Murder Arrested Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.