Life on the lines: Mounting risks of travel in Mumbai

Mumbai: The oft-quoted phrase ‘Mumbai never sleeps’ has the local trains to thank. This network is active for more than 22 hours a day. With railway tracks spread over more than 450 km, the Mumbai suburban railway network operates over 2,300 train services daily. 

In the city of industry, Mumbaikars rely on the ‘apni local' —  the fastest, cheapest and most reliable transportation system. The local trains ferry around 70 to 75 lakh commuters. 

It comes as no surprise that the local railway network is considered the ‘lifeline of Mumbai’. The Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) run this complex network. On average, around seven people are killed daily on the Mumbai-MMR rail network. This statistic has been a matter of concern for the city's residents and has even been noted by the Bombay High Court.

Currently, the trains serve about 10 per cent of Maharashtra's population. The challenges this presents are manifold, including what is known as the ‘super dense crush load’ during peak hours. As Mumbai is a linear city, the suburban passenger load shifts from North to South in the morning to South to North in the evening. Accidents on the tracks, suicides, falling onto the tracks from platforms, mishaps during footboard travel, overhead travelling accidents and security issues have also been all too common. 

Last week’s tragedy, when 13 people fell from two local trains speeding in opposite directions on parallel tracks near Mumbra in Thane district, was unprecedented in Mumbai's history. Four people lost their lives, while nine were injured, two of whom are in critical condition. The incident has brought the safety issues involved in the use of public transport into focus.

Loss of life

Officials have offered an explanation for why the tragedy occurred. “The victims were travelling on the footboards of a local train from Kasara. Those on another train, heading towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, collided with these passengers and fell. The passengers were carrying backpacks, which also contributed to the tragedy. Perhaps they brushed against each other, leading to the mishap,” said Swapnil Nila, the chief public relations officer of Central Railway.

He added that the distance between the parallel tracks is between 1.5 to 2 metres. However, at the curve where the incident took place, the distance narrows. 

Meanwhile, Shrikant Shinde, Member of Parliament, pointed out: “There is a sharp curve near Mumbra station. When two local trains passed simultaneously, some passengers hanging from the footboards fell down.” 

More than 51,000 people have lost their lives in Mumbai’s suburban networks in 20 years, according to an affidavit filed by the CR and WR in 2024. 

“Out of the 51,802 people who lost their lives on trains, 22,481 have died on suburban lines managed by Western Railway in the past 20 years, while 29,321 people died on the lines managed by Central Railway,” the railway administration had said in response to a petition filed by Yatin Jadhav. 

A division bench, comprising the then Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, censured the Railways for neglect in 2024. “A very serious issue has been raised in the PIL. Therefore, you (railway authorities) have to address it. You cannot say, we cannot do this or cannot do that due to the large number of people (in the city). You carry people like cattle. We feel ashamed at how people are made to commute,” the bench said.

During the hearings, Advocate Rohan Shah, appearing for the petitioner, likened commuting in Mumbai locals to a warzone. “Coming to college or going to work is like going to war, as the fatalities are more than the number of soldiers dying in active duty,” Shah had said during the hearing.

Government response 

Even the government seems to recognise the need for remedy. Coinciding with the summit in Mumbai in May, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said: “Infrastructure development is the cornerstone for increasing Mumbai’s suburban services. Projects worth nearly Rs 17,000 crore, covering more than 300 kilometres of new lines, are currently underway at a rapid pace. These initiatives aim to decongest existing lines, improve service frequency, and cater to the ever-growing demand of Mumbai’s suburban commuters.” 

Under fire from the Opposition, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the railway journey is being made more comfortable and safer. He said there are plans to introduce more AC suburban trains with automatic doors and ventilation.  

“Going forward, we are increasing passenger amenities and passenger safety. There is a load on the Mumbai suburban network. This is going to be there till all the metro lines are complete. With automatic doors, there is also a need for a proper ventilation system. We are planning for more AC trains without increasing the existing fares,” Fadnavis assured at a press conference in Mumbai. The CM said that improving public transport infrastructure is high on the agenda of the central and state governments.

Metro network

The metro rail network has emerged as a ray of hope in Mumbai. The metro network is designed to be larger than the existing Mumbai suburban rail network in terms of passenger capacity and overall network length.  

“It will take some time for the full network to be ready. Maybe in three to four years, there will be a big difference,” said Varun Singh, an urban infrastructure and transport expert.

“For people near the Western Line, the partially operational metro line has made a lot of difference. In a couple of years, people around the Central Line will also see similar benefits,” he said.  

On what ails the rail network, Singh said: “The biggest problem is bureaucracy. Most of the top officials are not aware of the problems that ail commuters, who hail from the middle class.”

He points out that on both the CR and WR, there are two to three AC local trains which start in a matter of a few minutes. “This affects the non-AC commuters and there is an immediate rush. Why can the timetable not be organised better?” he asked.

For women who are not part of Mumbai’s workforce, there are many problems. “First of all, many do not commute daily and struggle to board a crowded train and grab space. Besides, we notice a lack of washrooms and difficulty in locating them,” said M R Joshi, a resident of Badlapur. There should be ladies’ special trains during non-peak hours also, she added. 

Tourists and visitors from other states often find it difficult to understand the system. “Which side the platform would be on is generally known to a regular commuter. The rush to get in during peak hours is very high,” a resident said.

The Railway Ministry has held discussions with the Maharashtra government about introducing staggered office timings to ease peak-hour congestion. 

The challenge lies in the vast and complex nature of the network. “The Mumbai suburban network is the most complex traffic system in the world. It is really difficult to imagine how it works. There are challenges that arise not every day or every hour, but every minute and every second,” said Vimal Mishra, veteran journalist and historian, and author of the book Mumbai Local.

Mumbai faces immense population pressure as it serves as a major business hub. “Besides, the government has treated the profit-making MMR suburban network like a milking cow. Over the years, we have witnessed numerous commuter protests,” he added.

“A single 12-car train on Mumbai’s suburban railway network has the capacity to carry 1,100 passengers. However, such a train currently carries close to 5,000 to 6,000 passengers in one trip,” said Raj Suri, a veteran tour guide who also runs a stall at Churchgate station.

“For maintenance, the railway administration reduces services on Sundays to carry out necessary work. This is known as the mega block,” said Mishra.

The recent deaths also bring back focus on a yet-to-be-implemented Rs 21,000 crore makeover plan for the suburban train network prepared by an expert committee nine years ago.

“The Report on review of the rising trend of accidental deaths in Mumbai suburban system is, unfortunately, gathering dust on the shelves, even as the commuters continue to die on the tracks,” said B N Kumar, a civic rights activist and infrastructure expert.

Vaishnaw had also announced that all suburban local trains in Mumbai would be converted to air-conditioned coaches. “Where is the question of retrofitting these local trains with automatic doors, and what purpose will be served? Air-conditioning cannot be retrofitted. It can only be built into new rakes,” said Subhas Gupta, president of the Rail Yatri Parishad. 

Security issues

According to Ajoy Sadany, Inspector General-cum-Principal Chief Security Commissioner, Railway Protection Force, WR, several initiatives have been taken to help out the commuters. “Overcrowding is inevitable, particularly during peak hours. Overcrowded trains and congested platforms are not just inconvenient, but they also create fertile ground for petty crimes such as pickpocketing, chain snatching, and harassment,” he said. 

“Additionally, there are incidents involving fatka gangs, who exploit slow-moving trains to snatch passengers’ valuables. These incidents further exacerbate the problem, often leading to injuries or fatalities as passengers fall from moving trains,” he said. 

For female commuters, the risks are heightened. Overcrowded conditions, even in women-only coaches, frequently lead to instances of harassment and emotional distress.

“Ensuring their safety requires not only vigilant monitoring but also an effort to address the broader issues of overcrowding and inadequate space,” Sadany added.

Another pressing concern is the persistent threat of terrorism. “Suburban railway systems are vulnerable due to their open access and high passenger volumes. The 2006 Mumbai train bombings serve as a grim reminder of the catastrophic potential of such attacks,”
he said.

This behaviour not only disrupts operations but also leads to tragic fatalities. “In 2024, more than 3,500 untoward cases (deaths and injuries) were reported,” he pointed out. 

The load on the suburban railway network has manifested in several untoward incidents — sometimes resulting in serious injury and even costing lives.

These incidents only highlight how necessary it is to expedite alternative public transport in the city of industry.

Cut-off box - More than 51000 people have lost their lives in Mumbai’s local train networks in 20 years. In pic people travel by trains during rush hour.