'Long-distance' Mumbai local commuters face daily nightmare

MUMBAI: There are Mumbai local trains. And then there are long-distance fast local trains which are beyond 'local' -- they traverse a distance of 50-100km across Mumbai Metropolitan Region. This arduous commute to faroff places like Khopoli, Karjat, Kasara, Vasai and Virar takes a grievous toll of passengers for whom just travelling to work and back is an extreme sport.
It is in these locals that you hear the alarming thumping of feet as crowds rush in. Scenes of passengers storming train compartments and filling the seats within seconds might be mistaken for a comical fast forward video. But commuters who undergo the ignominy and guilt of battling fellow passengers for this simple comfort know better. For them, the prospect of travelling standing for upto two hours amid scores of heads and shoulders is a daily nightmare.
Mumbai Mirror reporters tested the journey and experienced first hand the massive crush load on suburban fast local trains during peak hours. The findings proved a sorry truth -- that commuters are forced to swallow their dignity and travel packed like sardines. Some describe it as a daily reality horror show. It becomes virtually impossible to get down at Dadar, Ghatkopar and other stations midway along the route.
Virar Fast
The route is a survivor's test of skill. Despite improvements in train services and frequency, passengers are forced to risk their safety, particularly those boarding at Dadar, Bandra, Andheri and Borivali -- areas that have witnessed substantial growth in office spaces and workforce.
Commuters on the Churchgate-Virar 6.14pm fast on Wednesday said second-class compartments face the most severe conditions. While seats were claimed within moments, initially, standing space was sufficient. Passengers at subsequent stations fitted themselves between seats. Dadar witnessed a large influx, filling the first class compartment entirely, while second-class passengers had to travel precariously at doorways.
"The govt started new trains from these stations, but they are still not enough to ease the crowds. First-class commuters like me have the option to travel by AC coach but second class passengers fare worse. There is no space to even board at Bandra and Andheri," said Virar resident Sagar Mankar.
Prakash Gaba, a garments shop owner at Linking Road, Bandra, said the BKC office crowd is so overwhelming, he actually travels to Andheri first, then disembarks to board a Virar fast train from that starting point.
This reporter's coach soon became densely packed. In the adjoining second class compartment, commuters engaged in bhajan-kirtan. First class passengers sought distraction in cellphone videos and ear pods.
The peril grew as the destination approached. Travellers from Dahisar and Mira Road heading towards Virar virtually fought those standing on the door to get inside. Girish Jain, travelling from Churchgate to Bhayander, remarked, "Suburban commuters seem to have extended upto Dahanu. Services are woefully inadequate."
Mankar said the morning rush hour sees most people alight at Andheri and Bandra. This indicates the crowds at these stations during the return journey.
Karjat Fast
On Tuesday, even an off-peak hour Karjat fast local from CST at 3.45pm was overcrowded. "This is due to the considerable time gap in services," said Abhishek Sharma who was travelling to Badlapur.
Dombivli resident Ashok Patil who works in a private firm in Dadar said: "It is very difficult to enter the locals that come from Karjat, Khopoli and Kasara during peak hours in the morning as well as evening. Many times I avoid taking these long distance local trains because it is difficult to get a seat. And even if you get a seat it will be when the train touches Dombivli."
Another commuter from Kalyan, Prathamesh Mane, who works as a sales executive said, "Even buying a first-class ticket or pass is not worth it, because second-class travellers breeze in and occupy space. This is because no ticket checker risks entering the train during peak hours. If the first class is jam packed, then one can gauge the condition of second class coaches."
Khopoli Fast
In a nearly two-hour journey by Khopoli fast, the hour-long stretch between CSMT and Kalyan compels Arvind Mokal to practise deep breathing and meditation. "A large crowd boards at Masjid, then goes ahead to CST, and takes the same train back to Khopoli, aware that securing a seat at CST is virtually impossible between 5.30pm and 7.30pm. My meditation intensifies as the crowd swells. I have lost or damaged nearly 10 headphones as the tumultuous entry and exit of passengers leaves no space to stoop and retrieve fallen earphones," said Mokal.
The most harrowing incident Arvind and his train mate Abhishek Kamble witnessed was of two students who had just boarded at Kalyan, falling off the moving train near Karjat. "We halted the train, alighted and travelled a km back on the track to rescue them. One had sustained grievous injuries after colliding with an electricity pole. Swift action by fellow passengers saved both," reminisced Abhishek.
He said respite arrives at Thane and Kalyan where many people alight. Interestingly, he said, his colleagues from Mantralaya read religious texts or (women) perform the 'haldi kumkum' ritual during festivals only after crossing Thane station.
Kasara Fast
It's peak crush load as commuters board the 6.28pm or the 7.18pm Kasara 'horror fast' from CSMT. While most are headed for Kasara, Asangaon, Titwala, Kalyan and Dombivli, there are also those who want to alight at Dadar, Kurla, Ghatkopar, Mulund and Thane, and for them, it is a harrowing experience.
"I wanted to get home to Mulund faster one day and boarded the 6.28pm Kasara fast," said an office-goer from the Fort area. "I comfortably got a seat in the first class compartment and kept my bag in the luggage rack. When I asked a fellow commuter if I would be able to get down at Mulund, he said I had better move towards the exit in advance."
As Vidyavihar approached, the office-goer who had seen large crowds enter at Dadar and Kurla, tried to inch ahead. "We were packed like sardines, and I could barely stand as I balanced my haversack on my shoulder. At Ghatkopar passengers pushed me back inside -- making it most difficult to squeeze out at Mulund. I literally had to request people to let me out before being almost thrown onto the platform," he shuddered.
HR professional Kaustubh Shinde was not as lucky. "I couldn't get down at Mulund as a mob of stout people with backpacks guarded the gate. Not even a mouse could have gone past them. At the next station, Thane, too, a surging crowd got in and pushed me back inside. I was only able to alight at Dombivli which is 29km from Mulund," he said.
Mithun Basu, a regular passenger, said, "These days even Dombivli passengers have to struggle in fast trains and AC locals during morning peak hours towards CSMT. When it comes to getting down from crowded trains, you need to master this skill in Mumbai. Yeh sabke bas ki baat nahin (it is not so easy for everyone)."
Rohit Gaikwad, a graphics designer, said he occasionally suffers scratches on the hand from somebody's bag brushing past him. "People travel like cattle, hanging from the door. There are some who even question you -- Why did you board a long distance fast train? I was annoyed by that question and have switched to the Thane slow," he said.
N K Krishnan of Kalyan has health problems and finds the Kasara fast "suffocating". "These trains are like a gas chamber during the monsoon. I have switched to Kalyan slow and I get a seat comfortably," he said.
Railways' response
Both Central and Western Railways are working on capacity enhancement projects to reduce overcrowding.
A total of 301km of new railway lines are being laid under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) at an investment of Rs 16,400 crore. This will increase suburban train services by at least 10% from the current 3,000 daily services.
Capacity augmentation is planned at existing terminals like Mumbai Central, Panvel and CSMT, along with new terminals at Jogeshwari and Vasai. The railways will also implement Kavach 4.0, an advanced safety and signalling system, to reduce train headway from 180 seconds to 150 seconds and eventually to 120 seconds.
Central Railway (CR) currently operates 1,810 services, with mainline services increasing from 835 to 894, including 271 fast trains. CR’s chief PRO, Swapnil Nila, said plans are underway to extend platforms 5 and 6 at CSMT for 15-car trains, enabling at least 20 additional services. Infrastructure projects such as new tracks between Panvel and Karjat and additional lines on key sections -- Kalyan-Asangaon, Kalyan-Karjat, and Kurla-Parel -- are also progressing.
Western Railway (WR) operates 1,410 services, up from 1,367 in 2018. The addition of a sixth line up to Kandivli and Santacruz enabled this increase. Work is also underway on the fifth and sixth lines between Borivali and Virar and the third and fourth lines between Virar and Dahanu to further ease congestion.