Mumbai: Suburban rail commuters in Mumbai have been losing patience with every disruption and delay in rail services, and this morning thousands of commuters jumped onto the tracks to protest over trains not arriving on time.
With delays becoming more and frequent every day, angry commuters led an impromptu demonstration in the early hours by climbing down on the tracks to stop an incoming train at Badlapur station, on the Central Railway (CR) line, instead of boarding it. Their protest affected several long distance trains that were held up or rescheduled. Rail services were back to normal by noon but not without inconveniencing travellers.
A CR spokesperson said, “S-6 Karjat-Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) was delayed due to a technical snag at Level Crossing Gate No. 26, between Karjat and Bhivpuri Road, and arrived at Badlapur 20 minutes behind schedule. From 5.55 hours TS-1 Thane-Karjat local was also stopped by the protesters.”
Personnel from the Government Reserve Police and Railway Protection Force were deployed to pacify commuters, said the spokesperson.
Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu directed the general manager, divisional railway manager and other officers to help passengers sort out their problems. He also requested they stop protesting as steps were being taken to address their grievances.
Due to the picketing, Express trains from Solapur and Kolhapur and to Pune were held up and two trains from Pune to CST were diverted via Karjat-Panvel-Diva. Several other trains were also rescheduled.
This is not the first time that Mumbai’s suburban trains have come to a halt. Delays have become so common, especially during the monsoons, that commuters express displeasure and anger through protests. Compounding this rage is the overcrowding and few amenities available for rail users at platforms and on trains.
Although steps are being taken to reduce passenger’s problems, nothing seems to be enough.
Right to Information activist Anil Galgali, who had recently sought information from the Central Railway regarding the functioning of a Public Grievances Cell opened by Prabhu in Dadar, was told that the minister had just visited this office once in the last 20 months. He said the office has received 1,600 complaints related to train movement, inspection, stoppage at specific station, facilities for passengers and other issues. Yet barely any work has been done so far.
