The Western Railway on Monday began installing a 3-metre-high railing along a 150-metre stretch near Garib Nagar in Bandra East to prevent garbage dumping and trespassing on railway tracks.
“As of March 9, fencing covering 37 route metres has been completed. Of the 50 foundations planned, 48 have been prepared, 33 cast, and 90 columns erected,” a WR official said.
Cleaning drive along the tracks. Pics/Satej Shinde
Slum concern
Bandra East has long been a dense slum pocket along the railway tracks, posing safety concerns for train operations. Authorities have been working to prevent the expansion of multi-storey slum structures near the operational lines. As a safety measure, several entry and exit points to the Bandra Terminus have already been restricted.
Waste problem
Officials said that in the past year alone, around 1875 cubic metres of waste were cleared from the area. The fencing is expected to curb dumping and restrict direct access to railway land from adjoining settlements, reducing sanitation risks and operational hazards.
Spare line
A railway line connecting the terminus with the southern end and the main line passes through a tightly packed slum cluster on both sides. The track is primarily used for locomotive transfers and, occasionally, train diversions during peak hours, making the stretch operationally sensitive.
