Mumbai: Commuters hand railways a ‘right to travel’ roadmap, plan bats for time-based passes

The delegation met CR officers and submitted their plan on July 9

Is there a plan for when the state green lights local train travel? Calling out the railways for twiddling its thumbs and pointing fingers at the state government, a delegation of commuters handed the railways an hourly commuting plan, called Right to Travel, based on official passenger and train statistics. On the other hand, an idea first reported by mid-day, of allowing those fully vaccinated on trains, is gaining momentum with the government and passengers.

Train commuters in Borivli. File pic

Taxpayers are not allowed to travel, only government employees are. If taxpayers do not earn, how will they pay taxes which are used to pay central government employees?" said Madhu Kotian, Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh president, who met Central Railway's divisional officers at Mumbai CSMT with the delegation.

"The railways cannot always say that they are waiting for the state government's nod and do nothing. They, too, need to be responsible. We have offered certain points with a time plan, which can be easily implemented," Siddhesh Desai, vice-president of the Sangh said.

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Counting numbers

Of the 3,141 daily services, about 88 per cent, that is 2,779 are running. Each local has a capacity of 1,000 as per Covid curbs. The plan argues that even if 70 per cent of total passengers are allowed, one lakh can travel. It demands that the ticket issuing capacity be boosted.

Spokespersons for both Central Railway and Western Railway said that they are following all Covid protocols and coordinating with the state government.

Passengers for travel of the fully-vaccinated

The idea of allowing fully vaccinated people on local trains, reported by mid-day in May, is gaining popularity among passengers and the state government.

Shailesh Goyal of Western Railway Zonal Users' Consultative Committee, who pitched the idea, said that Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, too, agreed on it.

"Tope said that local train access can be given to public if we speed up vaccination. If we want to bring the economy back on track, we will have to give utmost importance to vaccination," Goyal said.

Passenger association member Rajiv Singhal said if vaccination is made compulsory for local train travel, people will get the shots.

BMC poll politics involved?

Rail Yatri Sangh member Subhash Gupta claimed that there is politics related to civic elections behind the local train access issue. "The Disaster Management ministry is with the Congress, and it is not allowing public access to local trains. But the common man is upset with CM Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena. There could be politics behind this, I feel," he said.

Passengers wait for a train at Borivli station on July 2. File pic

The plan

The delegation requested the state government, municipalities and railways to come together and convert entries and exits into Metro-like entrances. Till the pandemic lasts, they have suggested deploying time-based passes.

>> Red Pass (Grade I)
7 am-10.30 am; 5 pm-7 pm
For essential workers

>> Yellow (Grade II)
4.30 am-6.30 am; 7.30 pm-9.30 pm
For private employees, shopkeepers

>> Green (Grade III)
Other timings for rest of the day

As per the plan, each pass should have a buffer of 30 minutes. Plan will encourage offices to work in shifts. Trains can be fully utilised instead of having one side completely empty. The plan also urges the State to help the railways build infrastructure at entry and exit points. No hawkers to be allowed in a 100 m radius from the station.

2,779
No. of services running currently

03
No. of categories for passes