Mumbai, India – Starting from midnight on Thursday, the Central Railway (CR) will implement a 63-hour mega block, significantly impacting local train services across the Mumbai network. This block is necessitated by platform extension works and is expected to disrupt both local and long-distance train services. Commuters have been strongly advised to avoid traveling by local trains unless absolutely necessary, as this action will affect the daily routines of thousands of passengers.
Mega Block Details
Rajneesh Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager of Central Railway’s Mumbai division, announced the specifics of the block at a press conference on Wednesday. A 63-hour block for widening platforms 5 and 6 at Thane station will commence at midnight on Thursday, followed by a 36-hour block for extending platforms 10 and 11 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) starting at midnight on Friday.
Impact on Services
Central Railway operates over 1,800 local train services daily across its four corridors – Main, Harbour, Trans-Harbour, and Uran – catering to over 30 lakh commuters. Under normal circumstances, the platform widening work at Thane would require three to six months to complete. However, using new technology, CR aims to finish the work in less than three days.
The mega block will facilitate platform extension and widening activities at CSMT and Thane station. Consequently, 930 local train services will be canceled, including 161 on Friday, 534 on Saturday, and 235 on Sunday. This will pave the way for the integration of new amenities such as escalators and broader staircases for Foot Over Bridges (FOBs).
Additional Cancellations and Adjustments
Chief Public Relations Officer Swapnil Nila stated that 72 mail-express trains and 956 suburban trains on the main and Harbour corridors will be canceled from Friday to Sunday. Nila emphasized the necessity for establishments to permit staff to work from home or explore alternate means to reduce passenger numbers during the block.
Various mail-express and suburban trains will be short-terminated and short-originated from Wadala, Dadar, Thane, Pune, Panvel, and Nashik stations. In response to the anticipated commuter inconvenience, the Railways have requested additional bus services from the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
Completion and Future Plans
The platform extension block at CSMT and the platform widening at Thane are scheduled to conclude at 3:30 pm on Sunday. Platforms 10 and 11 at CSMT are being extended to accommodate 24-coach trains, with the primary focus on non-interlocking works. At Thane station, platforms 5 and 6 are being widened by 2-3 meters to alleviate overcrowding and facilitate both mail/express and local trains.
Initially, 956 local train services were slated for cancellation, but 26 services have since been retained. During the block period, Central Railway will short-terminate and short-originate trains from Dadar, Thane, Wadala, Nasik, and Panvel stations. The Railways plan to short-terminate 444 suburban services: seven on Friday, 306 on Saturday, and 131 on Sunday, while 446 local train services will originate from various stations.
Technological Innovations
CR has almost completed the double-discharge facility work on platforms 10 and 11 at Dadar station and aims to finish the remaining tasks within the next two days. An official highlighted the use of hollow pre-cast blocks to expedite platform construction, noting that Thane station’s platforms are primarily used for fast suburban and long-distance trains.
As Mumbai braces for the disruption, the Central Railway’s efforts to modernize and expand its infrastructure underscore the challenges and complexities of managing one of the world’s busiest rail networks. The planned upgrades, once completed, promise to enhance commuter experience and safety significantly.
(With inputs from PTI)
