First heavy showers wash away CR’s claims

It took just one heavy rainfall on Friday to expose the shoddy work undertaken by the Central Railway (CR).

It took just one heavy rainfall on Friday to expose the shoddy work undertaken by the Central Railway (CR).

HT Image

Despite CR’s claims of a smooth ride this monsoon, the entire suburban section came to a halt within minutes of the rain starting.

During peak hours, the tracks at Thane station platform 5 were submerged in water and services were moving at snail’s pace.

“The track circuit failed because of the rain. The signals stopped working and trains were moving very slowly,” said a source from the railways, adding that trains from platform number 5 were to platform number 1 after Mulund, which delayed services.

CR spokesperson AK Singh, however, claimed that the delay was due to a technical default between overhead equipment wire and the motor coach at Thane station. “The power supply from the overhead wire to motor coach got cut off. Though it was restored at 6.30pm, the trains were 15-20 minutes behind the schedule,” said Singh.

However, services continued to be affected till late in night. Commuters complained of almost an hour’s delay, “There was no train at Ghatkopar station for over 50 minutes. Even announcements were not working properly,” said said Anubhuti Dixit, a college student and Mulund resident.