Local trains in Mumbai will now be a lot safer, thanks to the city's residents who are volunteering to act as the eyes and ears of the railway police.
Approximately 40 to 50 people have approached each of the 17 railway police stations in Mumbai to enrol as coach wardens, who will be tasked to keep an eye on troublemakers in the locals.
If they find anyone/anything suspicious - ten people were killed when a bomb went off in a train compartment in suburban Mulund in March this year - they will use their mobile phones to call the nearest police station.
Railway Police Commissioner S B Savarkar said, "Our drive (to appoint coach wardens) is on. As soon as it is completed, we will tell the wardens what type of people they must keep a close watch on and what type of material they should monitor."
The police expect to get at least one warden for every compartment. "We expect people who travel daily in the same train and in the same compartment to be our wardens. All types of people are approaching us offering support," he said.
The process of recruitment is in the first stage with the police checking the antecedents of those who have applied.
The potential is already becoming obvious.
"A few days ago, Thane-bound trains had to be stopped for some reason. At that time, a lot of concerned commuters called up offering to become wardens. Through them we could convince people to stay calm," Savarkar said.
