Efforts Underway by Mumbai’s Central Railway to Alleviate Rush Hour Congestion; Attempting To Change Office Timings
Mumbai, 18th November 2023: To mitigate the escalating rush hour congestion in Mumbai, the Central Railway has initiated efforts to modify the working hours of its employees. This step aims to bring about a comprehensive transformation. Over the past 16 days, the Central Railway corresponded with around 350 entities, including government and non-government offices, requesting a change in office timings. The Central Railway serves approximately 35 to 40 million commuters daily along its routes. During peak hours, trains run every three to four minutes, but overcrowding often results in service disruptions.
To address this issue, the Central Railway has divided its staff into two shifts. They have also appealed to other organizations and offices to follow suit. Since November 1st, requests for timing alterations have been made to hospitals, municipal authorities, police administration, elected representatives, media outlets, specific institutions, and banks. Positive responses to these communication efforts have bolstered confidence in the belief that efficient management of rush hour congestion is achievable.
On Sundays and public holidays, local trains operate according to ‘timetables for holidays,’ leading to cancellations of 350 services, inconveniencing passengers. The railway authorities assure proactive efforts to modify these holiday schedules. In case of any unforeseen disruption, immediate action will be taken to rectify the situation, as affirmed by Rajnish Kumar Goyal, the Divisional Railway Manager of the Mumbai Division.
Unfortunately, amidst this chaos, 505 passengers were injured, and 288 lost their lives after falling from overcrowded trains. Effective management of the rush hour becomes imperative to prevent such tragic incidents. Rajnish Kumar Goyal, the Divisional Railway Manager for the Mumbai Division of the Central Railway, emphasizes the necessity of altering office hours to manage the crowd effectively.
