Mumbai: Theft of Taps and Pipe Fittings from Mumbai’s CSMT Station Raises Concerns
Mumbai, 7th February 2024: Reports of theft of taps and pipe fittings from toilet facilities at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) station have surfaced shortly after the Central Railway of the Mumbai Division announced upgrades to enhance passenger comfort in these areas. The incident gained attention when images depicting missing taps from wash basins and absent water pipes from urinals were shared on social media by a concerned user.
The user’s post, directed at railway authorities, highlighted apprehensions regarding the systematic theft of fittings by station staff, drawing parallels to a similar incident on the Mumbai Madgaon Tejas Express. Responding promptly, Mumbai Division- Central Railway acknowledged the issue and assured that it has been escalated to relevant officials for swift action.
This incident sheds light on broader challenges encountered by the railways, exemplified by previous instances of theft and vandalism. Last year, substantial lengths of railway tracks were stolen and sold as scrap in Bihar, allegedly with assistance from Railway Protection Force personnel. Additionally, in 2022, reports emerged of an entire diesel engine being stolen, albeit dismantled, from a railway yard in Bihar’s Begusarai district. Although arrests were made and stolen items recovered, railway authorities stressed the imperative of enhancing security measures to thwart such incidents in the future.
Addressing concerns regarding the reported theft of the diesel engine, East Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer refuted claims of the entire engine being stolen, asserting that thieves primarily targeted copper cables instead. Furthermore, the railway official clarified that there was no evidence of tunnelling near the yard and attributed the breach to cracks in the boundary wall.
