Pune railway authorities are being asked to treat 10 locations across the Pune Government Railway Police jurisdiction as priority safety zones after a review identified recurring risks around railway tracks. The proposed response combines fencing, safer pedestrian access, better lighting and closer monitoring. The move matters because track trespassing is often linked to gaps in the urban pedestrian network, particularly where residents lack convenient and safe alternatives.
The Pune rail safety plan covers Pune, Kasarwadi, Chinchwad, Akurdi, Lonavla, Ahilyanagar, Kolhapur, Pandharpur, Solapur and Miraj. Senior police officers have been assigned responsibility for monitoring the identified locations and coordinating preventive action with railway agencies. The police review has pointed to several recurring infrastructure weaknesses. These include unauthorised track crossings, inadequate boundary barriers, poor illumination and a shortage of safe crossing facilities such as foot overbridges. Passenger movement close to active tracks can turn these gaps into serious safety hazards, particularly around densely settled areas and busy stations. The scale of the wider problem is significant. Data cited in the police communication show 2,461 accidental deaths across the Maharashtra railway police jurisdiction up to the end of 2025. At the same time, recent data from the Pune railway division indicate that track-related fatalities declined in 2025 compared with 2024, with officials attributing the improvement partly to increased patrolling and the closure of unauthorised access points.
That contrast offers an important lesson for the Pune rail safety plan. Enforcement can reduce unsafe movement, but permanent improvements are more likely when physical infrastructure makes the safer choice easier. Simply blocking an informal crossing without providing a nearby pedestrian route can shift the problem rather than solve it. The proposed engineering measures include repairing or extending fencing, adding lighting and signage, strengthening public-address systems and improving access control. Additional foot overbridges, subways or designated pedestrian routes could be considered where existing facilities do not match local movement patterns. The police have also proposed joint inspections involving the GRP and Railway Protection Force, along with regular monitoring and time-bound reporting. Technology could form another layer, with cameras and automated detection systems potentially helping identify trespassers or obstructions. Indian Railways already uses CCTV and other surveillance systems at sensitive stations as part of its broader security framework.
For Pune’s expanding urban areas, the issue is closely connected to inclusive mobility. Railway tracks should not become informal pedestrian corridors because neighbourhoods on either side lack safe connections. Planning future crossings alongside housing, employment centres and public transport can reduce that pressure. The immediate test for the Pune rail safety plan will be whether the identified locations receive measurable improvements rather than temporary enforcement drives. A safer railway corridor ultimately depends on combining policing with accessible infrastructure, consistent maintenance and safer routes for everyday pedestrians.
