THANE: Commuters will not allow AC locals to operate if the railway administration doesn’t restore all the normal services on the Central Railway main line, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad warned on Sunday.
Awhad was addressing commuters and representatives outside Mumbra railway station, Sunday afternoon, when he said running AC trains at the cost of the regular services will not be tolerated and also discussed problems faced by the common passenger from Kalwa and Mumbra.
“We will not allow the AC locals to operate as they were introduced by cancelling 21 regular services. Nearly 90% of passengers from Kalwa, Mumbra cannot afford AC trains and are forced to wait for the next crowded regular service. I want Kalwa and Mumbra commuters to unite and fight for your rights. I am not against AC trains but want them to be introduced as separate services and not at the cost of regular trips,” said Awhad while addressing the commuters.
Meanwhile, even as the AC local issue remained simmering, the railways have now turned down two primary requests of passengers here adding to their fury, complained activists. Commuters had met senior railway officials last fortnight and demanded a home platform outside the Kalwa carshed and also sought the new pair of lines be reserved for suburban locals, which was turned down by the administration.
“If the Kurla and Kalyan new tracks are used only for local trains, many more suburban services can be started between Thane and suburbs. Also, we demanded a home platform outside the carshed as trains exiting usually halt here for signal and many commuters are forced to board them in dangerous conditions as other services arrive packed from Kalyan and Dombivli. The railways had promised to look into the matters but it seems they are not concerned with our plight,” said Siddesh Desai, a railway passenger and activist.
Meanwhile, Central Railway officials maintained the existing 56 AC local services that were introduced on the main line early this year were being well received by passengers and there was no intention of replacing them now.
