Batala Railway Station: Passengers Face Daily Encounter with Death!

 

Batala Railway Station: Passengers Face Daily Encounter with Death!

​Passengers Forced to Jump onto Tracks to Travel, Human Rights Commission Takes Strict Action

​Commission Demands Response from DC Gurdaspur and Assistant Divisional Engineer

​Batala, October 24: (Baldev Singh Khalsa, Sunil Batlawi)

A serious matter regarding the safety of passengers has emerged at Batala Railway Station. Due to the lack of a pedestrian crossing, thousands of passengers are being forced to dangerously and illegally jump onto the railway tracks to catch their train. The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has taken strict notice of this life-threatening mismanagement. Following a complaint from Kamal Kumar, President of 'One Step Society', the Commission has ordered the Assistant Divisional Engineer-I of Northern Railway and the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Gurdaspur to submit a report. The next hearing for this matter is scheduled for December 15, 2025.

​'Right to Life' Affected by Absence of FOB

Social worker Kamal Kumar clearly stated in his petition that when a train stops on the central track, passengers have to jump from the platform onto the tracks to reach the train. He called this a violation of human rights, stating that it affects the 'Right to Life' of thousands of people, especially in the cold weather when it becomes an even greater difficulty, as visibility is sometimes zero.

​Kamal Kumar emotionally remarked, "Young people might risk their lives and jump onto the tracks, but what about women, the elderly, small children, and 'Divyang' (disabled) passengers? For them, crossing the tracks to catch a train is not only unsafe but also undignified."

​Railway Evasion and One-Year Delay

Kamal Kumar informed the Commission that he had previously filed a complaint (Grievance Number: MORLY/E/2024/0015289) regarding this problem. On July 2, 2024, railway officials responded that the proposal for an FOB (Foot Over Bridge) had been sent to the division. However, despite nearly a year having passed, there has been no ground-level progress.

​Conversely, according to a railway letter dated July 22, 2025, in response to another complaint, the need for an FOB was found not to be feasible. This contradictory situation has further compounded the difficulties for passengers.

​Violation of Law: Compulsion or Crime?

Walking or standing on railway tracks is a punishable offense (Illegal Entry/Trespass) under Section 147 of the Railways Act, 1989. This can result in a fine of up to ₹1,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months. The local public's question is: what should passengers do when the Railways is not providing the necessary facilities? Does their compulsion become a criminal act?

​Conclusion

'One Step Society' has appealed to the Railway Board not to consider this merely a problem of one station, but as essential life-saving infrastructure. They have not only demanded the immediate construction of an FOB but the organization has also requested the Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, to consider the matter.

​Meanwhile, thousands of daily passengers in Batala have welcomed the intervention of the PSHRC and expressed hope that this step will compel the railway administration to prioritize safety.