Mumbai Braces for Mega Block With 930 Trains Cancelled & 63-Hr Shutdown

Mumbai's lifeline, the Central Railway (CR), is gearing up for a massive 63-hour long weekend shutdown of train services starting Friday midnight and ending Sunday by 3:30 PM. This unprecedented move aims to expedite crucial upgrade works at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Thane stations but comes at the cost of major inconvenience for commuters.

Upgrading Mumbai's Railway Infrastructure

The core of the project lies in expanding capacity at CSMT and Thane. These are two of Mumbai's busiest stations. CSMT will see platforms 10 and 11 extended by 120 metres to accommodate longer, 24-coach trains. This will cater to the growing demand for long-distance travel. Thane, the second busiest station, will witness a widening of platform 5 from 10 metres to 13 metres, aiming to ease chronic congestion during peak hours.

Cancelled Trains

To facilitate these upgrades, CR has taken the drastic step of cancelling a staggering 930 local trains across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Additionally, mail and express trains will be rerouted, starting and terminating at Dadar, Thane, or Panvel instead of CSMT. This large-scale disruption is bound to create a travel nightmare for millions of Mumbaikars who rely on the local train network for their daily commute.

Measures to Mitigate the Chaos

Central Railway is aware of the potential for chaos and is taking steps to mitigate the disruption. Its has requested additional buses from BEST and TMT, Mumbai's public transport authorities. Additionally, it has appealed to transport unions to deploy more autos and taxis, especially near railway stations, to cater to the expected surge in demand. Talks are also underway with Western Railway to ensure it operate as many services as possible during the weekend, offering some alternatives for travel between suburbs and the city centre.

A New Construction Technique

There's a silver lining to this weekend-long shutdown. CR plans to utilise a faster construction method using pre-cast blocks for platform extensions. This innovative approach, a first for Indian Railways, aims to minimise the overall disruption to train schedules.

Despite the potential benefits, residents are not happy with the short notice and lack of robust alternative arrangements. Concerns have been raised about the practicality of relying solely on buses, taxis, and autos, especially with limited availability on such short notice. The potential for increased traffic congestion on Mumbai's already choked roads is a major worry.

While CR's infrastructure upgrades are crucial for long-term benefits, managing the immediate disruption will be a challenge. We recommend that travellers explore alternative travel options to mitigate these disruptions.