Mumbai, May 29 — A day after Hindustan Times reported that the Central Railway had not cleared the site of a railway accident that had occurred more than six months ago, one of the coaches that was lying precariously close to the railway line was moved. On Monday, May 24, Hindustan Times had reported that 11 coaches of the Bangalore-bound 6505 Down Gandhidham-Bengaluru Express that had derailed between Bhiwandi Road and Kopar stations in November 2009 were still lying at the same site.
One of the derailed air-conditioned coaches had been placed on wooden blocks very close to the tracks on a curve on the Diva-Vasai section of Central Railway’s Mumbai division. The coach was removed on Tuesday.
“It is not correct to say that the Central Railway has not bothered to correct the accident site. In fact, of the 11 coaches, ten coaches have been removed so far,” a Central Railway spokesperson said requesting anonymity.
“The other coach will be soon removed. The coach that is now lying at the accident site is at a sufficiently safe distance from the running track.
” When HT visited the site on Thursday, one coach was still there. A few wheels, batteries and technical equipment were strewn around.
“There is no confusion regarding the authority on who will clear these coaches,” the spokesperson said referring to some railway officials’ statements that since the coaches belong to the South Western Railway, the decision on what needs to be done with the coaches lies with them.