High price for poor services: Mumbaikars unhappy with AC local trains

The cracked glass of an AC local window. Pic/Rajendra B. Aklekar

Leaking roof, shattered windows, uncontrolled temperature and absence of ticket checkers. Mumbaikars, who are paying a high ticket fare for a better, comfortable commute on AC locals, are disappointed with the poor condition of the trains. Yet, despite this, the numbers on AC locals have seen a 20-fold jump in the past 11 days alone.

The fare of AC locals is 1.3 times higher than the first-class ticket cost. The train needs to be maintained. There can be a train attendant to look after such minor matters. Sometimes the temperature is too low and sometimes there isn't enough cooling. There is no one to redress the grievances immediately," said commuter Ankush Bade.

A commuter said water was leaking from the AC vent; it had pooled in the compartment, making the floor slippery

Missing ticket checkers

A resident from Dombivli, Pratiksha Lonari, said since the number of AC local services were increased, ticket checkers have disappeared from the trains.

"Earlier, there used to be ticket checkers and police in every service, but nowadays, most of the times they are missing even during the rush hours," she said.

‘Cracks are risky'

Rangachari Iyer from Mulund said he saw three cracked windows on an AC local train. "The cracks on the windows are close to the seats, which could prove risky for the commuters," Iyer added.

Commuters aboard the newly introduced AC local train on Monday morning reported heavy water leak in a compartment. The water accumulated making the floor slippery, with people raising concerns of short-circuit. It should be noted that the AC trains do not run on Sundays for maintenance.

‘Slippery floor'

"Water started dripping while we were travelling in the fast AC local train that starts from Dombivli at 8.59 am. The floor became slippery as water started accumulating on the floor," S K Partho told mid-day. He added that the leak was happening near the AC vent in the first half of the compartment.

‘Water leak being probed'

A team from Central Railway's Mumbai division fixed the problem soon after the shed staff on the run attended to the train.

"The problem was immediately attended to and the reason for water dripping is being investigated. A necessary action will be taken to avoid such a failure in the future. AC local trains are the future of Mumbai commute and we are committed to provide best services to the commuters," CR's chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar said.

In 11 days, Central Railway sees 20-fold jump in commuter numbers on AC locals

Despite criticism, complaints and demands to restore a few old services, Central Railway's AC locals have been gradually getting loyal commuters. It has reported a jump by over 20 times in the figures recorded 11 days back. At 60 trips, CR Mumbai at present runs the highest number of AC local trains in any zone of the Indian Railways.

Forty-four of the services run on the main line, eight each on the Panvel Harbour and Goregaon Harbour corridors.

On February 19, the first day of new AC services, only 800 passengers took the trains on the main line, the Panvel Harbour line and the Goregaon Harbour line, generating a revenue of Rs 46,034.

"Since then, the numbers have been increasing steadily. Despite several complaints about the services, loyal users of the AC train fleet have been quietly going up. On March 2, the number of passengers on AC locals reached 17,279, generating a revenue of R6,93,963.," a senior CR official said.

CR chief PRO Shivaji Sutar said, "AC local train services on all sectors are getting positive feedback and CR is in touch with all the stakeholders to suit it to commuter needs."