Public transport delays caused by monsoon, technical snags

The onset of the monsoon has increased commuter woes in the city, with delays in train and bus services becoming a regular affair.

The onset of the monsoon has increased commuter woes in the city, with delays in train and bus services becoming a regular affair.

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For instance, on Thursday, suburban trains services on the main and harbour line were disrupted because of technical snags in two separate incidents.

During morning peak hours, the main line services suffered owing to a technical snag at the level crossing at Diva. In the evening, a track fracture at Reay Road affected harbour line services and a CST-Panvel and a CST-Andheri train was stuck. Services were restored after half an hour. Such disruptions, caused by heavy rainfall and technical snags have become a regular affair (see box). “Disruptions are caused not just because of water logging, but also because of low maintenance. This is despite the maintenance block every Sunday,” said Madhu Kotian, Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee member, Central Railways (CR).

In the early hours of Wednesday, engine failures in a goods and a passenger train between Badlapur and Ambernath stations and at Kalyan station respectively, led to a delay in services.

A BEST official requesting anonymity said, “Our buses get stuck in traffic in narrow lanes. We can’t release extra buses if they are not available. However, we deploy four to five assistant traffic officers at each of the 25 bus depots. Depending on the delay in services and the requirement, they release extra buses.”

Regarding CR services, public relation officer, AK Singh said, “The recent disruption in trains are not monsoon related but rather caused by technical snags. We are taking care to minimise such disruptions.”