Sachin Tendulkar Launches Two Mumbai Rail Police Safety Initiatives

Tendulkar also recalled how, as a schoolboy, he and his friends once had a scary experience trying to cross the tracks.

"Right from the age of 11, I travelled by trains in Mumbai. When I travelled I had a kit-bag. I have also experienced jostling, being pushed in and out of trains, these experiences will stay with me," he added.

"In school, I had gone to Vile Parle to a friend's place. We -- five or six boys -- had practiced in the morning and had gone to his place for lunch. Then we decided to watch a movie. After watching the movie, we got late for practice and hence we decided to cross railway tracks and go to the platform and board the train at Dadar.

"While crossing the tracks, halfway, we realised that trains were coming fast on all the tracks. We ended up crouching on our knees in between the tracks with our kits. That was a scary experience and then onwards we never crossed train tracks," he said.

Talking about the two safety initiatives, Mumbai Railway Police said, "SAMEEP is an effort towards instant communication with railway passengers in case of any eventuality.

"Under this scheme, we invite commuters to give Missed Call on 7208015207 or SMS MH RLY COP to 166 to get registered. Those who get registered will be sent an SMS when required about important developments/disruptions, safety advisories, women security updates, correct information to dispel any

rumours," an official release said.

"B-Safe is a prolonged multi-media awareness campaign. It is for educating the public about various precautions they should take for safe commuting. The themes range from crime control, women's safety, accident-prevention, reporting of suspicious activity, etc.," it added.

The campaign will see theme-based posters being put up at all platforms, distribution of pamphlets and awareness meeting of commuter associations, educational institutions," it said.

Mumbai Railway Police Commissioner Madhukar Pandey, who was present on the occasion, said that nearly 75 lakh people travel via trains in the megapolis.