Mumbai's umbrella rail body invites bids to convert all local trains into AC

Taking the work of converting the entire fleet of Mumbai's local trains into air-conditioned (AC) ones a step ahead, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has invited fresh bids for it. With the railway ministry's approval in hand this time, the plan is most likely to be executed. The bids for the consultancy would open in January next year.

Before the pandemic hit the city, the MRVC had invited consultants for the work, but things did not move ahead due to the Covid-19 situation and the subsequent lockdowns. A senior official said, "The plan to convert the local trains into AC ones started moving ahead in October this year when Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, after a two-and-a-half-hour marathon meeting with Mumbai officials, had in-principle decided that the city would eventually have only AC locals. The fare structure will be on the lines of the Mumbai Metro and the design of the trains will be changed to make them at par with the international Metro trains. They will be manufactured by private players."

While the railway board chairman on his Mumbai visit said that they would consult the general managers of both the railways, Union Minister of State for Railways, Raosaheb Danve did not have much clarity on the issue. While Western Railway General Manager, Alok Kansal has introduced eight new AC local trains, Central Railway is yet to decide on the matter.

The MRVC work order states that they want to appoint consultants who would ensure smooth transition of the local trains into AC ones without much inconvenience to commuters. "The objective of the study is to develop a transition strategy for conventional local trains to AC locals in an efficient manner from the operational point of view with least inconvenience to commuters," the proposal notes.

A senior railway official explained that the problem starts at the level of fare and then moves to the replacement of regular locals with AC ones. Any change or shift in train patterns with the existing timetable would be a sensitive issue for the Mumbai suburban commuters and might lead to widespread protests and litigation, the official said, adding, "A smart way needs to be found to introduce AC trains without disturbing the existing services at any level."

Transition plan

As per the MRVC's nine-point plan, consultants will have to study the existing data/records regarding present traffic origin-destination matrix, commuter profile, comfort and ease of travel, peak/non-peak hour travel etc, and provide year-wise induction plan of AC locals. They will also have to study the existing time-table, train links, stabling plan and operational strategy, earmark different accommodation such as ladies, senior citizens, divyangjans, vendors etc. They will have to look into the workings of 15/16 car trains, simulate virtual operational feasibility and develop an overall strategy for migration to AC locals with no major changes in the existing time-table.