500 commuters sign complaint against rail authorities
More than 500 train commuters have signed a complaint with the Mumbai Rail Passenger Association, which will be submitted to the Central Railway (CR) authorities. This is because since March, commuters travelling on the Harbour line via Wadala are facing problems due to an apparent change in the train schedule.
More than 500 train commuters have signed a complaint with the Mumbai Rail Passenger Association, which will be submitted to the Central Railway (CR) authorities. This is because since March, commuters travelling on the Harbour line via Wadala are facing problems due to an apparent change in the train schedule.
The CR has dedicated platforms one and four to all trains starting from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) on the Harbour line going to Andheri or Bandra. While trains travelling between Panvel and Andheri are using platforms two and three.
“Platform four is not being used regularly and therefore all main trains halt at platform one,” said Madhu Kotian, general secretary, Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh.
This has caused problems for commuters travelling from CST to either Andheri or Bandra. They have only one platform at their disposal in Wadala “Due to the excess crowd on platform one, there are cases of pick-pocketing and other issues at the station. Even the train reaches three minutes late due to the change in the system,” said Nasiruddin Khan, member, Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC), Central Railway.
The railways, however, say the change in schedule has been made so that there is lesser confusion. “Platform one is a straight line for trains coming from CST and so there is lesser confusion for motormen. Platforms two and three are good for trains coming in the V-direction due to the arrangement of tracks, preferably the Panvel-Andheri section,” a CR official said.
“It will take sometime before commuters adjust to this change. This will improve the train service on Harbour line,” said CR Chief Public Relations Officer, S Mudgerikar.