Commuter protests at Diva station have been called off after railway officials assured more fast locals will halt there in the new timetable from September. Protesters demanded better train access and ambulance services. However, commuters from other stations fear overcrowding and chaos due to the decision.
Protestors, including Ashwini Kendre (centre), on hunger strike outside Diva station
The number of fast local trains halting at Diva railway station is set to increase in September, as per the new railway timetable and assurances given by officials to protesting commuter organisations, who have now called off protests. While the hunger strike outside Diva station is finally off, it has now led to a fresh debate triggered by commuters from other stations.
Commuter organisation members had been sitting on a hunger strike protest outside Diva station following the Mumbra rail tragedy. “Our protest movement had started in the Diva station premises from July 1. Our demands included local train service from Diva station to Mumbai CSMT, a halt to all fast local trains at Diva, a Panvel-Diva local train service, and the provision of ambulances outside Diva and Mumbra stations,” activist Amol Kendre told mid-day.
Delegation of commuter activists handing over petition of demands to railway and RPF officials. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
“On July 22, senior officials visited us, but no solution was found. On July 24, we visited the office of the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), where officials were positive and said that they would discuss the issue with the Central Railway (CR) management and get back to us within two days,” he explained.
Railway assurances
According to Kendre, on July 29, the DRM office informed the protesting organisations that the new suburban railway timetable was scheduled to be released in September. “In that, it will be planned to halt fast local trains leaving from Kalyan, Dombivli, Ambernath and Titwala at Diva. There was also a positive policy regarding starting a local train service between Diva and Panvel. Also, ambulances will be made available at Diva and Mumbra stations within two months. Following this, we decided to stop the protest,” Kendre said.
However, he added that the next fight will be legal. “We have decided to file a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) against the railways for better services through our lawyers Prabhat Dubey and SS Bhosale, to get the demands of Diva commuters fulfilled.”
‘Will lead to chaos’
Meanwhile, commuters from other stations have raised objections to the demands by Diva commuters. “If a Karjat local or all local trains going far off will halt at Diva, it will become chaotic and create more problems as people won’t be able to board at Thane station,” Dinesh Hele, a commuter, said.
“A Diva halt to fast trains will lead to more passengers getting in already-crowded trains, worsening the situation. The best option is to get a dedicated Diva local started for them so that they do not crowd other trains. As it is, a few outstation trains operate from Diva, so they will get significant crowds,” commuter Malini Rodse said.
Official Speak
A CR spokesperson said, “The Mumbai suburban network is very congested and is being used beyond capacity. Before introducing every change, we have to think a hundred times. We are building additional corridors, which will lead to an increase in services. But till then, we will find some interim measures to balance out things and accommodate more crowds. Adding one more terminal would be disastrous to the overall operations of the railway and lead to further delays. A single fast-terminating train entering Diva would need to negotiate six crossovers, leading to a loss of 12 minutes. This will lead to the entire timetable collapsing.”
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