A recent incident of attempted sexual assault on a suburban MMTS train has prompted the South Central Railway (SCR) to reassess the safety measures for its train services in the capital region. The incident occurred on the evening of March 22, 2025, when a 23-year-old woman sustained severe injuries after leaping from a moving train to escape her assailant. While SCR officials have promised enhancements such as installing CCTV cameras in train coaches, deploying panic buttons, and increasing security patrols, commuters argue that authorities have long ignored their pleas for improved services.
Since its inception in 2003, the MMTS network, a collaboration between SCR and the State Government, has faced criticism for its lack of safety and punctuality. Reports from frequent passengers highlight ongoing security challenges, such as unauthorized men in women-only compartments and the negligence of authorities in addressing such complaints. “Attacking a woman passenger has come as a shock. We shudder at the thought of what could have happened if the victim had not jumped off the train,” says Bharat, a concerned commuter.
Commuters like Sudhir K. Raj and Nagaraj have raised alarms about the absence of security escorts on trains, especially in women’s coaches. Through social media posts, they have highlighted problematic behavior observed between stations such as Yakutpura and Uppuguda. Despite tagging railway authorities, they claim little has changed, with Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel often limited to main platforms rather than patrolling the trains. “Each station is several kilometers apart, and there is hardly any ticket checking or security patrol,” says Ahmed, another commuter who regularly travels on these routes.
Passengers have also voiced frustration over erratic train schedules. Delays and sudden cancellations to accommodate express or freight trains have become routine, leading to prolonged waits, sometimes up to 45 minutes, at stations like Dayanandnagar. Suresh, who frequently travels on these trains, asks, “Is it any wonder many avoid traveling on the trains, especially after dark?” Correspondingly, ridership numbers have plummeted from almost 200,000 to about 50,000, with many passengers opting for more reliable alternatives like free bus services and the Metro.
The responsibility for this crisis is shared, with the SCR transferring the investigation of the recent assault to the Government Railway Police (GRP). Despite appeals from two Union ministers from Telangana urging SCR to take responsibility for the victim’s medical care, little action has been taken beyond a token hospital visit by officials. The attacker remains at large.
Calls for improved security measures are growing louder, with passengers suggesting employing a home guard on women’s coaches during nighttime, similar to the Mumbai suburban railway system. An SCR official speaking anonymously admitted to a shortage of security personnel and revealed plans to enlist 500 home guards to address this gap. “Certain blackspots on MMTS sections have been identified,” he acknowledged, underscoring the urgent need for reform.
Amid escalating concerns over passenger safety and service reliability, the spotlight is now on SCR to deliver on its promises and regain public trust. It remains to be seen how effectively the railway authorities will address these long-standing issues and ensure the safety of their passengers on the MMTS train network.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/a-heinous-crime-and-a-wake-up-call-for-hyderabads-suburban-train-services/article69385515.ece
Category : Telangana
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Publish Date: 2025-03-29 08:32:00
