How Safe Have Mumbai Local Stations Become Since 26/11 Attacks?

The Quint investigates safety arrangements at Mumbai’s stations on the 9th anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks.

Commuters disembark from crowded local trains in Mumbai (Photo: Reuters)

In July 2017, The Quint conducted an investigation into security arrangements at Mumbai local stations by straight up walking into stations with a knife and brought forward the glaring lapses to the attention of the public and the railway officials. On the ninth anniversary of the 26 November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, The Quint did a follow-up at three landmark stations– Churchgate, CST and Dadar– to see whether any improvements had been made, or at the very least, whether security has been strengthened on the eve of the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack the city has ever seen.

Also Read: 11 Years Since Mumbai’s 2006 Bomb Blasts: How Safe Are the Locals?

Between 9 and 10 PM on that day nine years ago, heavily armed LeT terrorists entered the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) – amongst other areas such as the Taj Hotel where they kept hostages for up to sixty hours and Leopold Cafe in Colaba – and opened fire on platform number 14 near the main line area. They sprayed bullets indiscriminately from AK-47s and detonated grenades, killing 58 people including railway employees. They then escaped taking the local line, taking the bridge over platform number one.

A police guard walks an old man through the bloodied platforms of CST station in Mumbai(Photo: Reuters)

So, have we learnt our lessons? It seems not. It has been nine years since the Railways came out with a comprehensive Integrated Security System (ISS) to be implemented across Mumbai stations. These measures include door frame metal detectors at entry points, baggage scanners, cops to frisk you with handheld scanners, CCTV cameras, ambulances being deployed.

The Quint found that in many places, the measures had not been implemented at all, including crucial spots like Dadar station, where the main platforms are easily accessible from crowded places like neighbouring flower and fish markets. And, in those places where these measures such as deploying RPF commandos at check points had been implemented after spending thousands of crores in resources and manpower, they often amounted to nothing owing to negligence and institutional lethargy.

Editor: Kammaljiith Kainth

Also Read: 9 Years After 26/11: Could Another Terror Strike Be in the Offing?