Mumbai: Harbour Line commuters launch protest against new AC local train

The new Harbour Line service was introduced on May 1. File Pic

After Western Railway (WR), now Harbour Line commuters have started a signature campaign against a recently introduced AC local train. Central Railway (CR) introduced a second AC local on the Harbour Line from May 1, replacing a few non-AC services and running the train at 6.33 pm at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).

Protest at Virar

Two days ago, a mass protest held at Virar against AC locals run by WR saw commuters jump onto rail tracks to stage an impromptu ‘rail roko'. Virar commuters, during the Monday morning protest, raised objections against the newly-introduced 8.28 am local, questioning the need for such a train within an interval of five minutes, as there is already an AC local at 8.33 am from Virar to Churchgate.

Harbour Line campaign

A core group of long-time Panvel-bound commuters has refused to take the move lying down. To force a policy rethink, they have launched a mass signature campaign directed at senior railway authorities. "The group is urging the administration to plan AC and non-AC services in a more efficient manner," said commuter activist TPG Krishnan.

Shift to AC services

CR and WR have been introducing more AC local trains as replacements to existing services. Most commuters mid-day spoke with said the railways should go ahead and introduce more AC trains, but must stagger timings of AC and non-AC trains in consultation with commuters to avoid conflict.

The burning issue at CSMT

TPG Krishnan, commuter activist

‘Thousands of office-goers rely on the 6.26 pm Panvel slow regular local train at CSMT. Three coaches in his train are reserved for women commuters, drastically reducing capacity for general commuters, causing extreme crowding, long queues, and difficulty in boarding the train. Introduction of the AC local at 6.33 pm has a ‘domino effect'. The subsequent 6.41 pm non-AC local is now delayed by 10-15 minutes every day. This gap results in massive crowds building up at CSMT, leading to dangerous boarding conditions and a significant risk to passenger safety.

Official Speak

A railway official
‘The air-conditioned service has huge demand, and it has experienced a significant rise in commuters. The trains will increase gradually. All the trains are being introduced thoughtfully so that there is minimal inconvenience to general commuters'

Commuter body reacts

Nandkumar Deshmukh, Mumbai Suburban Railway Passengers' Federation
‘The railways are just bullying their way through. They are not listening to the common man's grievances and just catering to a few elite commuters. This is not done'