Mumbai local trains ferrying people on overaged coaches

Nearly 500 coaches of Mumbai local trains are on the tracks despite crossing their operational life of 25 years.

In reply to an RTI application filed by Mumbai resident Chetan Kothari, it was found that 240 EMU coaches of the suburban Central Railway and 237 coaches of the Western Railway were overaged. The life of the coaches is 25 years and an EMU coach is termed overaged after it has completed it.

When asked about the overaged coaches, the public relations officer of Mumbai Western Railways, Nitin David said, "These overaged coaches will be off the track in another six to seven months. It is being done in a phased manner. We receive rakes in lots and work is being carried on."

However, he said, "Extra time and extra precaution including extra expenditure is being incurred for the maintenance of these coaches for safeguard of the passengers".

With nearly lakh commuters using these coaches everyday, they constantly undergo wear and tear. While the western railways has a total of 1196 EMU coaches which run at a speed of 80 kmph, the Central Railway has 2348 EMU coaches which run at a speed of 100 kmph.