Mumbai: In the wake of a horrific accident near Mumbra railway station that claimed four lives, the Railway Board has announced immediate safety reforms aimed at preventing similar tragedies on Mumbai's overcrowded suburban rail network.

The Railway Board has introduced two urgent measures. Automatic door-closing systems will be installed in all new suburban train rakes and retrofitting of existing non-AC rakes with door automation features to curb unsafe footboard travel.

Although timelines and budgets remain unspecified, railway officials said implementation would begin “without delay.”

The incident underscores the long-standing challenge of overcrowding on Mumbai's local trains, which transport over 7 million commuters daily. With just 15 AC rakes equipped with door automation, the majority of non-AC coaches lack basic safety features.

A retired railway official noted, “A 2020 pilot for door automation failed due to poor ventilation in non-AC coaches. It's unclear how this issue will now be resolved.”

As public outrage grows, Indian Railways faces mounting pressure to balance safety, capacity, and commuter comfort.