Fewer trains ply on tracks; railways begin repairs of damaged property
The city’s lifeline limped back on Saturday morning after Friday’s riots after trains on the Central and Harbour Line were disrupted for almost six hours.
Also read: All calm at Diva railway station after mob frenzy
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Saturday scenario
The Central Railways operates 121 trains on its Main line, Harbour and Trans Harbour routes every day. The 10 damaged alone ran 140 services per day. Soon after services resumed on Friday, the damaged trains were taken to various car sheds and workshops for repair work. S Sood, general manager, Central Railway, said, “We will get all 10 damaged rakes repaired and back on track.” Sources said that CM Devendra Fadnavis, too, asked the railways to expedite the repair work. “Our workforce worked in shifts from 11.30 pm on Friday. In all, 300 railway staff worked continuously till 7.30 am on Saturday,” said a CR official. As a result, the first of the damaged EMU rakes was pressed into service by 4 am on January 3, while others were pressed into service gradually. By 12.30 pm, all the 10 damaged rakes were plying on tracks.
Commuters stranded at Thane station on Friday. Pic/SAMEER MARKANDE
Other reasons for delay
On Saturday, there were other reasons for the delay in trains as well. “Trains were late after a truck damaged the level crossing gate between Titwala and Khadavli and got stuck for 35 minutes. Also, at 12.50 pm, the Thakurli level crossing gate was broken by an auto rickshaw,” said Chief PRO Narendra Patil. Sources said that due to this, the crossover remained open and affected the train services. Also, seven long-distance trains coming from Karjat and Kasara were running late due to fog, further affecting schedules.
Also read: 39 arrested in riots at Diva railway station
Damage mode
The estimated cost of the damage inflicted by the mob at Diva, Mumbra and other stations (10 trains were damaged) amounts to over R1.5 crore. Rioteers damaged 13 sheets of glass, 31 gauges, eight man-machine interfaces, six man machine interfaces of public address system, 10 public address system displays, 12 headlights, 11 blinkers, nine special lights, 14 auxiliary head lights, nine speedometers, 21 switch panels, 11 isolation units, 50 window glasses and 265 window panes.
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