Suburban railway users in Mumbai will be forced to endure significant inconveniences in the coming weeks, as Western Railway (WR) embarks on a massive infrastructure block to construct the sixth railway line from Kandivali to Borivali. The key upgrade, which will help reduce congestion in one of the busiest parts of Mumbai’s local train network, will result in the cancellation of 70-80 local trains daily, as well as close to 100 long-distance trains.
Month Long Block To Fund Major Infrastructure Upgrade
Officials of Western Railway assured that block will be installed in several phases within a 30-day period starting the intervening night of December 2021 and continuing until January 18, 2026. In the initial phase, the operations of the trains will be restricted between December 21 and December 26 at night between 11 pm and 4.30 am to reduce the disruption of the train during the peak seasons. Nevertheless, a few services will be affected regardless of whether it is executed at night.
The block is needed in case of engineering works of heavy nature such as track realigning, laying and removing crossovers and significant signaling upgrade and overhead electric systems. Officials explained that this kind of work could not be performed with ordinary train traffic, and that it needed to be regulated on a large scale.
Why The Block Is Needed
The leaders of the railway department argue that the sixth line project is a glamorous one that will increase capacity in suburban rail traffic and improve punctuality. Presently, the suburban and outstation services are sharing a small track, which results in delays and operational pressure. Upon its completion, the sixth line will enable the easy segregation of the long-distance and local train traffic, and the pressure will be relieved in the current corridors.
The same officials also clarified that the fifth Suburban Traffic Avoidance (STA) line will not be operational in the near future because it will be necessary to connect the new track system with it. A number of trains that usually run along this route will therefore be operating on rapid tracks with speed limits.
Impact On Daily Commuters
This effect of the block will be significant. Approximately 94 suburban trains every day (with equal numbers going up and down) will be hit between December 21 and 25. Approximately 87 services should be affected on December 26, and about 70- 80 locals in the suburbs will tend to be cancelled daily until mid-January.
Besides cancellations, rescheduling, short-termination, short-originating trains, and diversions should be anticipated by the commuters. Some of the services will bypass Borivali halt and reach Andheri or Vasai Road instead. There will also be regulations and delays in long-distance trains since the availability of track is restricted.
Railways guarantee that they try to reduce inconvenience
Vineet Abhishek, the Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway, added that the situation is being monitored closely, and the authority will make efforts to minimize disruption, particularly around the New Year celebrations, when Mumbai records a high number of commuters. New schedules will be delayed at the stations, and regular announcements will be made to guide passengers.
Authorities have urged commuters to schedule their journeys early, keep a lookout for railway notices, and also to expect delays in late evening and night travels.
Temporary Suffering To Eternal Benefit
The representatives of the commuter and railway officials have realized that inconvenience is unavoidable, but the long-term gains outweigh the short-term inconvenience. The sixth line will greatly enhance train frequency, reduce overcrowding, and improve operational flexibility upon completion.
Subhash Gupta, a member of the National Railway Users Consultative Committee, said that passengers would have some problems in a couple of weeks, but this was necessary work for future expansion and improved services.
As Mumbai has made local trains its lifeline, this upgrade has come at a cost that the commuters are most likely to accept, considering the inconvenience that will occur in the short run. Still, it will likely benefit the city’s suburban rail system in the long run.
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