20 March,2026 09:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Railway authorities said the maintenance block is essential for infrastructure upkeep and ensuring passenger safety. Representational pic
Central Railway will operate a mega block on its Trans-Harbour line between Thane and Vashi/Nerul stations on Sunday, March 22, to carry out engineering and maintenance works.
According to an official statement, the block will be in place on both UP and DOWN lines from 11.10 am to 4.10 pm.
During this period, train services on the Trans-Harbour line will remain suspended between Thane and Vashi/Nerul stations.
Several services will also be cancelled due to the block. The DOWN line services for Vashi, Nerul, and Panvel departing from Thane between 10.35 am and 4.07 pm will remain cancelled. Similarly, the UP line services for Thane departing from Panvel, Nerul, and Vashi between 10.25 am and 4.09 pm will be cancelled.
Railway authorities said the maintenance block is essential for infrastructure upkeep and ensuring passenger safety.
Passengers have been requested to bear with the inconvenience caused due to the temporary disruption.
The press release was issued by Dr Swapnil Nila, chief public relations officer, Central Railway.
Central Railway has intensified its drive against ticketless and unauthorised travel, recovering more than Rs 227 crore in penalties from nearly 38 lakh offenders during the financial year 2025-26 (April 2025 to February 2026), according to an official statement.
Railway officials said the crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to ensure a safe, smooth and comfortable travel experience for passengers while discouraging violations across its network.
During the period from April 2025 to February 2026, Central Railway's ticket-checking teams apprehended 37.99 lakh passengers travelling without valid tickets or with improper travel authority.
This represents an increase of nearly 10 per cent compared to the 34.60 lakh passengers caught during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.
In terms of penalties, the railway recovered a record Rs 227.03 crore, compared to Rs 185.62 crore during the same period last year, marking a rise of more than 22 per cent.
Central Railway said the enforcement drives also saw significant results in February 2026, when 3.65 lakh passengers were caught travelling without valid tickets.
The figure is higher than the 3.32 lakh offenders detected in February 2025, indicating an increase of nearly 10 per cent.
During the month, ticket checking teams collected Rs 23.27 crore in penalties, up from Rs 18 crore in February last year, reflecting a rise of nearly 30 per cent.
