India, June 11 -- In a long-overdue safety measure, Indian Railways has announced the introduction of automatic door-closing systems in Mumbai's suburban train network to tackle the rising number of deaths and injuries caused by overcrowded compartments and open train doors.

The initiative comes after a series of tragic accidents where passengers-many of them daily wage workers and students-fell off moving trains during peak hours. With over 7 million commuters relying on Mumbai locals daily, the lack of protective barriers on doors has been a persistent hazard and a grim reality for years.

Railway officials confirmed that automatic doors will first be installed in newly acquired rakes, with a phased plan to retrofit older coaches as pa...