To reduce overcrowding on Mumbai’s Central Railway (CR) suburban trains, CR has requested around 800 offices in the city to change or stagger their work hours. The aim is to ease peak-hour congestion and enhance commuter safety. While the letter is not new, CR is using social media to remind offices of the proposal.
CR Urges Staggered Office Timings to Ease Train Overcrowding and Boost Safety
Each day, over 35 lakh passengers commute on 1,810 CR local train services, making it the most affordable and widely used mode of transport. The worst congestion occurs during peak hours—8 to 10 am and 5 to 7 pm—especially on the CSMT-Thane stretch. The request for revised office timings was sent to a wide range of institutions including central and state government departments, corporations, banks, colleges, and municipalities.
CR officials argue that adjusting work schedules is a more viable solution than building new railway lines, as there’s limited space to add tracks, particularly between CSMT and Kalyan. The urgency of the issue was underscored by a recent accident near Mumbra, where eight passengers fell from an overcrowded CSMT-bound train. In response, the Railway Board announced that all new rakes under production for Mumbai Suburban will include automatic door closure systems.
Over 51,000 Deaths on Mumbai Suburban Railways Since 2005, Reveals Shocking Data
A larger concern looms over Mumbai’s suburban railway network—between 2005 and July 2024, 51,802 lives have been lost, with 29,321 deaths on CR and 22,481 on Western Railway (WR). Stations such as Kalyan, Thane, Vasai, and Borivli account for the most fatalities.
The leading causes of these deaths are line crossing and falling off moving trains. Thane and Borivli top the list for track-crossing deaths, while Kalyan and Vasai lead in fall-related fatalities. The data was presented by CR and WR in an affidavit to the Bombay High Court in response to a public interest petition.
Summary:
To ease overcrowding on Mumbai’s Central Railway, CR urged 800 offices to stagger work hours. With 35 lakh daily commuters, peak-hour congestion poses safety risks. A recent accident and over 51,000 rail deaths since 2005 highlight the urgency. Key causes include track-crossing and falling from moving trains during rush hours.
