Eighty-eight-year-old Rajpati Upadhyaya, a retired security professional, became the first senior citizen to travel in Mumbai’s first dedicated senior citizen coach on the Central Railway on Thursday. The special coach was attached to the 3.45 pm CSMT–Dombivli train. Equipped with a government-issued senior citizen card and multiple IDs, Upadhyaya said he had no idea he was the first official user of the facility.

I always travel with my IDs. I’m heading to Mulund. It feels great to know there’s a dedicated coach for us now. It gets really difficult to board regular coaches during peak hours. I hope the railways enforce strict rules to ensure only senior citizens use this space,” an excited Upadhyaya said.

First Mumbai local train with a dedicated coach for senior citizens. PICS/RAJENDRA B AKLEKAR