Talks begin to get local trains back on tracks in Mumbai

On Wednesday, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had reiterated the need to resume suburban train services in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

To make it easier for frontline workers and supporting staff to report for duty, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is expected to again raise the state’s demand that suburban railway services be resumed in Mumbai, during his video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 17.

Sweepers clean the platform after CM Uddhav Thackarey demands central government to restart local ytrains for essential service staff at CSMT in Mumbai on Thursday. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

However, according to officials, discussions are going on between railway authorities, state officials and ministry of home affairs ,and local train services for essential workers may begin from Monday.

On Wednesday, Thackeray had reiterated the need to resume suburban train services in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. He said frontline workers are finding it difficult to commute and many have not been able to join duty due to the absence of public transport.

State health minister Rajesh Tope, during his video conference with Union health minister Harsha Vardhan on Thursday, requested railway services for those involved in essential services. After the conference, Tope said, “I have reiterated our demand for suburban railway services for essential and emergency services. I am confident the Union health minister would discuss it with the Prime Minister.”

Railway officials in Mumbai on Saturday said no directions have come in from the railway ministry. “There are messages in circulation about starting of suburban trains... it is informed that so far, we haven’t received such instructions... We will update you once we receive instructions from competent authority,” Shivaji Sutar, chief PRO, CR, tweeted.

Officials from the state government said several letters have been sent to the Centre after the demand was raised by the CM during his video conference on May 11.

Train services are being demanded only for frontline workers and supporting staff involved in essential services. “There has been crowding in buses after we allowed private offices to operate at 10% of their workforce from Monday. This has been causing inconvenience to the people in the essential and emergency services. Many of them travel from far-flung suburbs. They are already in tremendous stress, and resumption of railway services would help to offer some relief,” said an official.