Six fast locals from Goregaon, Malad to stop at Jogeshwari

MUMBAI: Under pressure from commuters, the Western Railway (WR) on Friday decided that six fast locals will halt at Jogeshwari station from November, like it used to. The 9.56am ladies special will however start from Virar, instead of Vasai.

“Yes, we have decided to restore the halts of six locals from Saturday,” said Ravinder Bhakar, chief spokesperson of WR.

In its new suburban timetable, which was implemented from November 1, WR had discontinued the halts of six locals starting from Goregaon and Malad stations at Jogeshwari, to speed them up.

The decision irked commuters who claimed they would be forced to board other crowded locals.

Commuters also gheraoed the Jogeshwari station master on Thursday, besides launching a signature campaign against the move.

Mansoor Darvesh, president of Passengers and Traffic Relief Association, said commuters also wrote to Union railway minister Piyush Goyal on the issue. “We are thankful to the railway authorities for restoring the halts of six fast locals at Jogeshwari,” said Darvesh.

Besides this, Shiv Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar also wrote to WR general manager about the halts, while Maharashtra minister of state for housing and Jogeshwari MLA Ravindra Waikar called the divisional railway manager.

WR officers said they were forced to withdraw their earlier decision owing to public demand and political pressure.

The new timetable had also stated that the 9.56am ladies special from Vasai road will be running from Virar. Although women commuters protested against the same, WR spokespersons said the train will run from Virar.