15 August,2016 08:36 AM IST | | Maleeva Rebello
The experiment to convert some Borivli locals to superfast is less trial and more error, say irked commuters; 500 have signed a petition urging authorities to reconsider the move
On July 28, Borivali fast trains at 5.49 pm and 8.30 pm from Churchgate to Borivli were converted to superfasts. This meant that the superfasts would not halt at the stations between Andheri and Borivli. This meant a real crush for commuters living at Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Malad and Kandivali, who found the trains that stop at their interim stations have become fewer, so they are forced to get into impossibly crowded trains.
The scene at Churchgate station with people rushing to catch trains back home. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi
Commuters have started a signature campaign against the superfasts, collecting more than 500 signatures and counting. The letters have been sent to the Western Railway General Manager, via email and courier. Grace D'silva, Goregaon resident sent three letters in total. The Hindustan Petroleum employee said, "I sent the letters via e-mail and even couriered it to the GM's office. But there was no reply. So I re-sent it. I have been working at Churchgate for the last 20 years. With the 5.49 pm train becoming superfast, the 5.52 pm fast has subsequently become crowded as it halts between Andheri and Borivali."
Suresh Jadhav, commuter who lives at Malad said, "I cannot alight at my station, because of the crowd. I end up going to Kandivali. The 5.49 superfast is empty from Churchgate to Borivli, while we are packed like cattle. We want to go home in peace; the commute is adding to stress."
"If the Railways want to experiment, they should do it between 11 am to 4 pm. They cannot play these trial and error games at peak hours. We have enough stress at work. We have to hang on the footboard which makes this a harrowing experience," said Pravina Mathur, a teacher who commutes from Charni Road to Jogeshwari.
A new letter with 100 signatures was sent as recently as August 12, too. Jyoti Kunder who works for Bharat Petroleum said, "Going to Borivli via the superfast is a problem too, as the 5.49 train does not return to Churchgate but becomes a Virar train from Borivli. The authorities might as well make it a Virar at Churchgate and compensate us with another train."
Not everybody is unhappy, though. Borivli commuters find their commuting time cut by over 20 minutes. "There is place to sit and the train is much faster. I would reach home 30 minutes later, but now I have a stress-free commute. There should be more superfasts," said Reema Parmar, a student. Karim Shaikh, Borivli resident who commutes from Bandra said, "At Andheri, the train is very comfortable. I get a seat even in the general compartment. I think superfast trains need to increase. For those who live between Andheri and Borivli, the slow trains are there, they can take those."
Obviously, it is different strokes for different folks.
