No lunchbox for Mumbaiites as train derailment hits Dabbawala service

The derailment that hit Mumbai's suburban train service on the Western Railway not only caused massive inconvenience to passengers on Tuesday but also threw the famed dabbawalas' operations out of gear.

The derailment that hit Mumbai's suburban train service on the Western Railway not only caused massive inconvenience to passengers on Tuesday but also threw the famed dabbawalas' operations out of gear.

A-file-photo-of-the-legendary-dabbawalas-in-Mumbai-AFP-photo

Widely lauded for their slick system for reaching meals to thousands of office-goers, the dabbawalas on Wednesday failed to deliver tiffins as they could not collect them back from offices due to the stoppage of the suburban local train service on Western Railway (WR)'s network.

Seven coaches of a Churchgate-bound fast local train came off the tracks on the WR line on Tuesday, leading to the blocking up of three lines between Andheri and Vile Parle.

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Seven coaches of a Churchgate-bound fast local train came off the tracks on the WR line. (Satish Bate/HT photo)

Dabbawalas, or Mumbai's iconic lunch-box carriers, could on Wednesday reach only 40% of their tiffin deliveries to Mumbaiites as they could not collect them back from offices on Tuesday evening due to the disruption.

"We could not get the tiffins back yesterday (Tuesday) evening after rail services were hit for the entire day. Hence, we are unable to make almost 60% of the deliveries today," said president of dabbawala association, Raghunath Mendge.

There are nearly 5,000 dabbawalas in groups of 100 who deliver over two lakh lunch boxes from Churchgate to Virar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Kalyan and from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai.

Mendge said, "Today we are able to deliver only 40% tiffins in schools and colleges where our men go on bicycles or other means outside of local trains."

He added that the dabbawalas will will resume their full services on Saturday as Thursday (September 17) is a holiday on account of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Read:Mumbai local derailed: Track damage near accident spot offers clues

Asked if they had received any complaints from customers, Mendge replied in the negative, saying, "Our customers are aware about the disruption in local train services. Hence, they have not shown any displeasure."

The city's century-old dabbawalas, who have received a 'Six Sigma' quality certificate, are known for their unique management of delivering lunch boxes that has won them several global accolades.