Mumbai local trains for all? Nope, not yet, says railways

A file picture of women boarding a train after they were allowed during off-peak hours. Pic/Nimesh Dave

Railway officials in the city on Tuesday said they have not received any update from the Maharashtra government about allowing access to suburban trains to the
general public.

"There has been no communication on the issue," a senior official said. Citizens had been curious throughout the day on Tuesday as the Maharashtra government had told the court that a decision would be taken on January 12 about the issue.

Internally among state officials, there has been talks about implementing the Chennai pattern of unlock for Mumbai local trains, though there has been no official interaction or communication on it. The Chennai pattern involves opening local trains in five phases - the first being for emergency workers, the second being opening them for women in off-peak hours, the third being opening them to the general male public in off-peak hours/night, the fourth being allowing access to women for all the time and the last and the fifth phase being the opening of all trains for the general male public for all the time. Mumbai is now in the second stage with women commuters being allowed during off-peak hours from November.

Senior officials said talks about allowing the general public on trains were speculations and there is no confirmation on it and a decision about it would be taken after the Maharashtra government discusses the issue at an appropriate level.

What is the Chennai model?

Internally there has been talk about implementing the Chennai pattern of unlock for Mumbai local trains. The Chennai pattern involves opening local trains in five phases - the first being for emergency workers, the second being for women in off-peak hours, the third being opening them to the general male public in off-peak hours/night, the fourth being allowing access to women all the time and the last and the fifth phase being the opening of all trains for the general male public for all the time. Mumbai is now in the second stage with women commuters being allowed in off-peak hours.