Railways restore ladies special train services

Mumbai: A day before Congress party’s scheduled ‘Rail Roko’ agitation, Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Narendra Mehta  on Wednesday announced the railway ministry’s decision of resuming the peak-hour ladies local service for Vasai and Bhayandar which were extended to Virar in Western Railway’s new timetable.

Women commuters from Bhayandar can now heave a sigh of relief as their most preferred 9.06 am ladies special will resume operations soon.  

To substantiate his claims, the Bharatiya Janata Party legislator shared copies of a letter sent to him by Union railway minister Piyush Goyal stating restoration of the Churchgate-bound ladies special which originated from Bhayandar station at 9.06 am.

This apart from restoration of 9.56 am Vasai Road-Churchgate ladies special which was also extended to originate from Virar. In addition, a new ladies special will originate from Vasai Road at 10.04 am.

The introduction of these services will increase to 10 (six Up and four Down) from the existing eight services. The restored and newly-added services are likely to commence from December 25.

Leaders including  Thane Member of Parlia-ment  Rajan Vichare, former Congress legislator Muzaffar Hussain and Bharatiya Janata Party  spokesperson Shaina NC have been raising the issue in support of the women commuters who have been complaining that since the services were extended, they are compelled to travel standing, as by the time the train reached their respective stations, all the seats were already occupied.