Mumbai: CR commuters want their favourite AC local back!

AC trains got politicised after some leaders backed non-AC commuters’ protests. Representation pic

Rail commuters on Central Railway (CR) have started a petition and signature campaign inside trains to get more AC services. This comes in the wake of a rollback in AC services due to protests from non-AC commuters, which were supported by a handful of politicians. In August, CR withdrew 10 AC services. In August, CR withdrew 10 air-conditioned services and handed over its AC trains to Western Railway (WR), a move some CR commuters termed unfair.

"Please consider our sincere request to convert the 8.14 am Dombivli-CSMT regular local into an AC train or at least introduce an additional AC train starting from Dombivli at the earliest. There is a 27-minute gap between 7.47 am and 8.14 am, a slot which could be used to introduce a semi-fast. This will be a great help to all commuters," said Dombivli resident NY Joshi, who started the petition.

The first AC local train service in Mumbai was started on December 25, 2017. Representation pic

"This train is always jam-packed and even passengers from Dombivli find it extremely difficult to get the seats although the service commences from there. It is a matter of serious concern that due to very limited capacity, the second-class women's compartments in general and first-class in particular, as well as the men's first-class compartment are overcrowded. As soon as the train arrives at Dombivli station, a huge crowd already waiting on the platform rushes in to grab seats and this causes a lot of inconvenience to the passengers. At times, people even fall on the platform," a commuter, Bhagyashree Bose, said.

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"The condition of passengers from stations beyond Dombivli such as Diva, Mumbra and Kalwa is such that barely anyone enters the train due to overcrowding," another commuter, Shripad Sonawane, said. A commuter, Matam Shivanand, said, "Our earnest request is to introduce an additional AC train to CSMT (semi-fast) commencing from Dombivli between 8 am and 8.15 am. This will give a huge relief to the passengers from Dombivli, Diva, Mumbra and Kalwa." CR officials said that they have taken note of the suggestions. "We will look into this matter," said Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer, CR.

Since August 2022, Mumbai's AC local trains have become a political tool with NCP president Sharad Pawar calling for their complete withdrawal from the city and restoration of regular services for working-class commuters. The first AC local train service in Mumbai was started on December 25, 2017, on Western Railway (WR). While CR runs 56 AC services with four of its five trains in use, WR operates 79 such services with four trains in use.

Reel conductor back on duty

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has revoked the suspension of a woman bus conductor, who had appeared in Instagram reels and Facebook videos in uniform. MSRTC had said that it was against the service rules and amounted to misconduct. Following her suspension, many political leaders objected to the MSRTC's actions while the general public also spoke out in her favour. Following this, the suspension was rolled back after the conductor was given a warning.

56
No of AC services operated by Central Railway