CR blocks commuters’ celebration plans

KALYAN: A four-hour power block between Dombivli and Kalyan stations from 9.45am to 1.45pm on Wednesday acted as a dampener in Christmas celebrations of Central Railway (CR) commuters, forcing them to grapple with crowd, delay, traffic snarls and fleecing by autorickshaw drivers.

The power block on the fifth and sixth lines was to launch four girders for a new foot overbridge at Thakurli station. The stopping of local train services between the stations for four hours impacted the long-distance and services from other stations too, leaving CR stations overcrowded during morning peak hours. “I waited for more than half-an-hour to get a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus-bound train. But with all services shut, I had to cancel by Christmas celebration plan,” said Nishant Kadam, 27, from Dombivli. “I came in a bus from Airoli to Kalyan. I had to go to Ulhasnagar, but the trains were running very late. When I asked autorickshaw drivers, they started to ask for ₹400 for a distance for which I usually pay ₹25-30,” said Smita Deshmukh, 33, a local commuter from Airoli.

Trains towards Karjat and Kasara were running from Kalyan, but the frequency remained poor.

Stranded, several commuters were seen sitting on the platform at Kalyan and Dombivli or having meals on the railway bridge. “Trains were running at a gap of 25 to 30 minutes in the morning. The frequency on both up and down lines got better after 12pm,” informed a railway official.

The block added to the crowd at Thane station too. “Commuters travelling to Navi Mumbai and Mumbai travel by bus to Thane. The block hit the frequency of trains from the station, adding to the chaos on CR,” said an official.

While commuters complained that railway counters were not issuing tickets, the railway official said no such instructions were given to the station administration.

“Although the local services were stopped, there was no order not to issue tickets,” said another official from CR.

Agra road and Rambaug that lead to the Kalyan station road, too, saw major traffic jams.

RISHIKESH CHOUDHARY/HT Stranded, hassled, irritated: This was how most commuters on the Central Railway line (left) felt after a four-hour power block between Dombivli and Kalyan stations. (Above) A girder being launched at Thakurli station. (Right) While some were stranded at stations, others had to pay auto drivers extra.