MUMBAI: Central Railway will remove the maintenance platform that is attached to signal poles as they can prove dangerous for commuters travelling either on a train's rooftop or window sill.No fixed structure is allowed to infringe on the Schedule of Dimensions (SOD) of the Indian Railways. Hence, even in a moving train, commuters inside the train—whether standing or seated—are perfectly safe from external fixed structure.But rooftop travel or travelling on window sill or leaning out of coaches can be hazardous as the SOD does not take into account such unsafe method of travel.Subodh Jain, general manager, CR said, "After the April 19 incident in which three persons died and 31 were injured after being hit by a part of a ladder hanging lose from a signal pole between Mulund and Nahur, it has been decided to remove the maintenance platforms as they can prove dangerous for commuters. Initially, only those...
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maintenance platforms, which we feel are critical, will be removed."SOD indicates an obstruction-free zone within which a railway coach moves during travel. Jain said, "The platform attached to signal is not a threat to person standing near the foot-board as they are situated above the height of the train door. But if a person travels on the window sill, with a backpack on his shoulder, he is most likely to get hit the maintenance platform."