C R may allow its commuters to take long-distance trains
MUMBAI: With a view to decongest the suburban railway services, Central Railway (CR) is considering allowing local commuters to travel in long-distance trains. This was discussed in the recently held meeting between a nine-member committee. The meeting was set up following the recent spate of fatal accidents on the railway tracks because of congestion.
On November 28, Dombivli resident Bhavesh Nakhate, 21, lost his life after falling from an overcrowded train. Following this, railway minister Suresh Prabhu ordered CR and Western Railway (WR) to set up a committee to discuss the issue. One of the solutions suggested by the railway authorities was to allow suburban passengers travelling from Kasara, Karjat and Kalyan to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) in long-distance trains that arrive in the city early in the morning.
As most of the long-distance trains are empty after Kalyan station, CR believes allowing suburban passengers in them will utilise their capacity as well as decongest suburban trains.
CR is planning to first introduce this service in Latur, Mahalaxmi and Devagiri Express. Depending on the response to these trains, the facility may be extended to other trains. However, railways is still to work out the commercial modalities. While it is considering allowing only monthly season ticket (MST) pass holders to travel in long-distance trains, commuter activists demanded
a single and return journey, should also be allowed to travel under this service. “Sunil Kumar Sood our general manager (GM) is also seeking the requisite permission from the railway board to implement it,” said Narendra Patil, chief public relation officer (CPRO), Central Railway (CR).
Commuter activists demanded if such a facility is started, additional halts to long distance trains
and Badlapur. “This has been our long-pending demand,” said Aniket Ghamandi, railway activist. Other activists demanded such an arrangement should be implemented without causing any inconvenience or delay to longdistance passengers. “Any such arrangement will lead to clashes among reserved and suburban passengers,” said Subhash Gupta, Zonal Railway Users Consultative