12-hr WR mega block delays trains, hassles commuters
Thousands of suburban commuters on the Western Railway (WR) were inconvenienced on Sunday as Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) conducted a 12-hour mega block. Central Railway commuters said they were also affected by ongoing work.
Suburban services were delayed and stations were overcrowded, said commuters.
The train timetable was disrupted even after the block ended, aggravating the problem.
“My children and I left for Oshiwara on Sunday morning. But, the trains were so packed that we missed two on purpose. We got down at Jogeshwari and took an autorickshaw to Oshiwara,” said Sunil Pawar, a Charkop resident.
The block was conducted on the north-bound slow corridor between Andheri and Goregaon stations so WR could extend the harbour line from Andheri to Goregaon. The Central Railway conducted a five-hour mega block on the main and harbour corridors starting at 11.10am.
The block on the main line was between Matunga and Mulund stations, while CST, Mahim and Chunabhatti stations were affected on the central line.
Prabhat Ranjan, MRVC’S public relations officer, MRVC, said the block enabled them to demolish a platform at Jogeshwari station so new tracks could be laid. “We plan to lay the new tracks next week if we get permission to announce a mega block,” said Ranjan.
WR and CR spokespersons said the work was completed within the deadline.