Authorities from Western Railway have begun fencing off a notoriously polluted section along the eastern side of the railway tracks near Bandra in an effort to curb garbage dumping and trespassing from nearby informal settlements.
For decades, residents from adjoining slums have reportedly been discarding waste and sewage along the tracks, creating serious hygiene issues and damaging railway infrastructure. The accumulation of garbage has also posed operational challenges for railway authorities and increased maintenance costs.
According to officials, work to identify the affected stretch and install protective barricades began on February 28. Railway engineers accelerated the project in the past few days after completing the initial marking of the area where a three-metre-high metal fence will be erected.
Currently, teams are digging pits to install foundation poles for the fencing. Of the 50 pits required for the project, excavation work has been completed at 48 locations, and foundations have already been laid at 33 points.
“The fencing is being installed along a stretch of 150 metres parallel to the Harbour line at Bandra East,” said a Western Railway official. “We have finished work on 37 metres.”
The slum clusters near Bandra East railway station have existed for many years and are densely populated. Over time, these settlements have expanded closer to the tracks, particularly along the Harbour Line and in the direction of Bandra Terminus.
Railway authorities have previously attempted to address the issue but faced challenges in removing the encroachments. Sources within the railways said that the presence of large slum populations, often considered important vote banks for political parties, has complicated enforcement efforts. Officials reportedly decided to act after a foreign tourist highlighted the poor condition of the tracks through a post on social media, drawing wider attention to the problem.
Residents of nearby settlements are said to frequently use the railway tracks for daily activities such as drying clothes or placing household items, often dangerously close to operational rail lines. Long-distance trains and locomotives regularly pass through the fifth line in the area, making such activities highly risky.
The waste dumped along the tracks often settles beneath the concrete sleepers, gradually damaging these essential components of the railway system. A Western Railway official revealed that nearly 600 cubic metres of garbage and debris had to be cleared from this stretch of track over the past year alone.
In addition to the cleanup efforts, railway authorities recently replaced several concrete sleepers that had deteriorated due to prolonged exposure to waste. The replacement project cost between ₹8 crore and ₹10 crore and was undertaken to protect railway assets and ensure safer operations.
However, maintaining the infrastructure remains challenging as long as garbage continues to be dumped on the tracks. Officials believe the new fencing will significantly improve the situation.
“But now the fence will prevent slum dwellers not only from throwing garbage but also from trespassing on the tracks,” said the Western Railway official.
The project is expected to improve cleanliness, protect railway infrastructure, and enhance safety along this heavily used railway corridor in Mumbai.
Source: Hindustan Times
