Passengers sound alarm over unsafe train travel in Kerala's Kollam: Safety recommendations

The incident in which a girl was kicked off the Kerala Express at Varkala, near Kollam, has raised fresh concerns about the safety of train passengers. It underscores that commuters are not secure even in superfast express trains. The Government Railway Police (GRP), entrusted with ensuring passenger safety, suffers from a shortage of personnel. While major stations have more staff, smaller halt stations have only a few, relying on local police outside for support.

GRP services are available on nighttime trains, though restricted to reserved compartments. With the increase in night services, the shortage of security personnel has become a serious issue. The absence of CCTV cameras in smaller stations further hampers monitoring and control. General compartments, in particular, have become easy targets for anti-social elements. Security officials also report a rise in the number of intoxicated passengers.

Adding to the challenge, general compartments are positioned at the start and end of trains, making surveillance more difficult. Women’s compartments are located at the rear. Ensuring police presence in general compartments would help curb threats posed by miscreants. Recently, a differently-abled passenger was attacked at Kollam's Shasthamkotta for questioning an intruder who entered the compartment reserved for the differently-abled. The accused fled as the train halted at the station and is yet to be tracked down.

Passengers face threats not only from anti-social elements but also from stray dogs and reptiles at railway stations. For instance,  Kollam district, which has 27 stations under the Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram railway divisions, the highest number in Kerala, faces multiple security challenges, both big and small.

Kollam Junction
Poor lighting remains the main issue at Kollam Junction, where construction is ongoing. Waiting space for passengers is limited, and with sections of the platform's overhead roof removed, finding shelter during rain is difficult. The station previously had 18 CCTV cameras, many of which are now defunct following the demolition of the old building.

Punalur 
No steps have been taken to control the proliferation of stray dogs near the Punalur railway station. Despite incidents of a child being bitten and reptiles increasingly being spotted, no preventive measures have been implemented. Six months ago, a native of Thrissur was bitten by a stray dog. It was just five months ago that a dead python was found on the platform here. 

Avaneeswaram
Avaneeswaram railway station has no lighting, leaving passengers arriving on nighttime trains, such as the Kanyakumari–Punalur and Thoothukudi–Palakkad Palaruvi services, in difficulty. Owing to the platform's bend, those alighting from the front and rear compartments are forced to rely on their mobile phone torches for visibility. 

Thenmala, Aryankavu, New Aryankavu 
Although construction of the platform at the New Aryankavu railway station along the border has been completed, the roof is still missing. At Thenmala station, construction work was abandoned midway due to non-payment to contractors. The situation is no different at Aryankavu railway station.

Karunagapally
A few weeks ago, several passengers were bitten by stray dogs at the Karunagapally railway station. The high-mast light adjoining the station has not been functioning for a long time. Railway quarters have deteriorated and are now being reduced to ‘quarters’ of anti-social elements. Despite being one of the leading stations in terms of passenger traffic and revenue, Karunagapally station has no Railway Protection Force (RPF) unit. 

Kundara, Perinadu 
The stray dog menace is the biggest issue experienced at Perinad railway station. The absence of roofs on both platforms causes severe hardship to passengers. Owing to low traffic, the Chandanathoppu, Kundara, and Kundara East stations along the Kollam–Punalur route have turned into havens for the drug mafia, who mostly camp along the tracks and nearby wild growth. 

Ezhukone 
The stretch beyond the point where the platform towards the Kottarakkara side at Ezhukone station ends is overgrown with wild vegetation, turning it into a haven for anti-social elements and drunkards. Passenger safety, especially that of women, needs to be ensured. The long-standing demand to install CCTV cameras at the station also remains unaddressed.

Shasthamkotta 
Stray dogs near the station premises bit two passengers. Gangs stealing helmets from two-wheelers parked at the station are also active. There is a growing demand for a police aid post and for adequate lighting at both the station and the platform. 

Kottarakkara 
The lights at Kottarakkara railway station have not been functioning for years. The stray dog menace is also severe. Railway premises overgrown with shrubs have turned into a haven for thieves. There have also been instances of anti-social elements unleashing attacks during the night hours. Police presence is ensured only when busy trains arrive, and there is no surveillance mechanism in place. 

Paravur 
Poor lighting and stray dogs continue to pose problems at Paravur railway station. Since women’s compartments are positioned at the rear, female passengers are the worst affected by the inadequate lighting. The wild growth along the station premises, which has become a camping ground for drug gangs during the night, adds to the security concerns.  

Safety recommendations by passengers
 • CCTV cameras should be made mandatory in all railway stations.
 • Surveillance cameras should be installed in all train coaches.
 • Since general compartments are not connected to other compartments, the number of intoxicated passengers and other anti-social elements is high. Stringent inspections should be carried out in general compartments to check whether passengers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Women police officers should be deployed in women’s compartments after 6 p.m. Police presence should be ensured at least in stations where trains have scheduled halts.
 • A communication mechanism should be installed in trains to enable passengers to contact loco pilots or guards in case of emergencies.
 • Police presence should also be ensured along roads leading to railway stations at night.