Pune Railway Division Struggles with Chain-Pulling, Stone-Pelting Incidents in 2024
The Pune railway division is grappling with a sharp increase in disruptive incidents, particularly chain-pulling and stone-pelting, which are posing serious challenges to train operations and passenger safety. With 1,757 reported cases of chain-pulling in 2024 alone, the issue has become a major concern for railway authorities. Chain-pulling, often triggered by trivial reasons such as passengers stepping out for a snack or leaving luggage outside, has led to delays, disrupted services, and significant operational inefficiencies. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is stretched thin, responding to each incident individually, further compounding the issue of delays on an already overburdened system.
Chain-pulling has become an all-too-common nuisance, with passengers frequently resorting to pulling the emergency chain for reasons that are far from urgent. This careless behaviour not only delays trains but also impacts the timely movement of hundreds of others. The RPF is tasked with tracking down those responsible for these incidents, a process that is time-consuming and resource-draining. While the Indian Railway Act imposes a fine of ₹1,000 or imprisonment for those found guilty, the penalties appear to have little deterrent effect, given the continuing frequency of such incidents.
Alongside chain-pulling, the Pune railway division has also seen a concerning rise in stone-pelting incidents. In 2024, 57 such cases were recorded, nearly double the number from the previous year. These attacks, which have primarily targeted trains on the Pune to Lonavala and Pune to Daund routes, continue to pose a threat to passenger safety. While most of the incidents have been without significant injuries, two cases in 2024 resulted in minor passenger injuries. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has managed to resolve less than half of the cases, highlighting the difficulty in curbing this dangerous trend. The rise in stone-pelting incidents reflects broader concerns regarding law and order in public spaces, and the local railway system is struggling to address the growing number of safety threats to passengers.
From a civic and urban perspective, the rising number of chain-pulling and stone-pelting incidents highlights a deep-seated issue of public accountability and urban safety. Pune’s growing population and expanding railway network have made the city’s public transportation system more susceptible to disturbances. Furthermore, with over 200 trains operating daily from the Pune division, the ripple effects of these incidents are far-reaching, affecting not just passengers, but the efficiency of the entire network. Authorities need to address these disruptions with greater urgency, ensuring that both passengers and the workforce are protected from these avoidable hazards.
Sustainability, in the context of urban railways, goes beyond environmental concerns and delves into the system’s ability to remain functional and efficient amidst growing pressures. Ensuring that the railway system operates smoothly, without frequent disruptions, is essential to creating a sustainable transport infrastructure. The continued occurrence of chain-pulling and stone-pelting reflects an urgent need for better public awareness, improved security measures, and greater community involvement in maintaining the safety and punctuality of public transport systems. With urbanisation increasing rapidly, the resilience of such systems is critical to achieving broader sustainability goals, not only in terms of environmental impact but also in terms of community well-being and efficient public service delivery.
