The Indian Ralways is about to start a "mega block" in Thane and Mumbai's CSMT starting May 30 midnight. The works will hamper normal life in the city as local train services. The Railway operates more than 1,800 local train services on its four corridors- Main, Harbour, Trans-Habour, and Uran, every day, which are used by more than 30 lakh commuters every day.
Initially, the railway had announced the cancellation of 956 local trains but later it decided to operate 26 services. However, the Central Railway has officially asked people to resort to the local trains only as their last resort in the coming days.
The Railways will short-terminate 444 suburban services, including seven on Friday, 306 on Saturday and 131 on Sunday. A total of 446 local train services, including 307 on Saturday and 139 on Sunday, will originate from various stations.
The Central Railway will operate a 63-hour mega block from May 30 at midnight for platform extension works on the Mumbai network. A total of 72 mail-express trains and 956 suburban trains on the main and Harbour corridors will remain cancelled from Friday to Sunday, a railway source told news agency PTI.
The extension works will affect Mumbai's local train network used by lakhs of people for daily commutes.
Not just the local services but long-distance trains to Mumbai are also likely to be hit during the block period, news agency PTI reported.
The Central Railway has appealed to Mumbaikars to avoid depending on the local trains, if not necessary.
Once the platform breadth is widened, the railways will be able to establish facilities including escalators or wider staircases for FOB (Foot Over Bridge) in the platforms.
The mega block will be operated for platform extension and widening works at CSMT and Thane stations. Thane's platform numbers 5 and 6 will be widened during the process in the first phase starting from Thursday midnight.
Afterwards, extension works of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) 11th and 12th platforms will begin from Friday midnight. It is estimated to last 36 hours.
The platform extension works CSMT and widening of at Thane station will end at 3.30 pm on Sunday, a Central Railway release said.
In all, a total of 930 local trains, including 161 on Friday, 534 on Saturday and 235 on Sunday, will remain cancelled during the mega blocks (at CSMT and Thane), the Central Railway has confirmed.
Several mail-express and suburban trains will be short-terminated and short-originated from Wadala, Dadar, Thane, Pune, Panvel and Nashik stations. During the block period, Central Railway will short-terminate and short-originate local as well as long-distance trains from Dadar, Thane, Wadala, Nasik and Panvel stations.
The following trains will be short terminated at Dadar Terminus and Panvel:
Special Block Alert!
— DRM Mumbai CR (@drmmumbaicr) May 29, 2024
Special midnight block up to 01/02.06.2024 for Pre Non-Interlocking works. following trains will be short terminated and short originate on JCO- 31/05 & 01/06/2024
Kindly plan your journey accordingly. pic.twitter.com/8YvIcCQUtD
Special Block Alert!
— DRM Mumbai CR (@drmmumbaicr) May 29, 2024
Special midnight block up to 01/02.06.2024 for Pre Non-Interlocking works. Block repercussions today on 30/31.05.2024. Suburban/Mail Exp train services will not be available between Byculla and CSMT from 00.30 hrs to 04.30 hrs (midnight of 30/31.05.2024). pic.twitter.com/XS2uT6069w
The following trains will be cancelled: