In Mumbai, users of Central Railway’s suburban services faced significant delays and overcrowding as a 63-hour-long mega block commenced to widen platforms at Thane station.
The mega block, which began at midnight on Thursday, disrupted suburban services along CR’s main corridor, causing inconvenience to thousands of commuters. To mitigate the impact, the Maharashtra government allowed all public service vehicles in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to conduct stage carriage operations during the mega block period.
This permission, granted under section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, came after more than 12 hours into the block. Public service vehicles, including buses, taxis, and autorickshaws, were authorized to transport passengers from any point, easing the strain on commuters affected by the block.
Commuters reported delays of up to 30 minutes, packed local trains, and overcrowding at major stations due to the platform widening work at Thane station. Central Railway had already announced the cancellation of six long-distance trains and 161 local services on Friday due to the block.
In response to the disruptions, railway authorities advised commuters to avoid unnecessary suburban train travel during the block period. They also urged public and private organizations to facilitate work-from-home options for employees or provide alternative transportation.
Anticipating the challenges, state and municipal transport bodies were requested to increase bus services. During the block, a total of 72 long-distance and 930 suburban services were slated for cancellation.
Despite the initial disruptions, Central Railway officials noted progress in the work. Some tasks were completed ahead of schedule, offering hope for improved services soon.
“The track slewing work at Thane station has been completed. Tamping and blasting of the track are in progress. The up slow line was declared fit well ahead of its scheduled time,” stated a CR spokesperson. While local trains were running slightly behind schedule, authorities anticipated a return to normalcy by late morning.
Sources By Agencies