Dabbawalas say all-AC train fleet will hit business badly

Mumbai: Vegetable vendors and dabbawalas are of the view that eventually making all trains air-conditioned will be unfair to them. The reasoning behind this is that either their space in AC trains will reduce or disappear. However, the more likely impact might be Mumbaikars getting their dabbas late or veggies reaching the local sabzi mandi (vegetable market) late.

Dabbawalas, who are world-famous for their efficiency and man management, have said they will not be able to afford the AC train rates. According to proposed fares by city railway officials, tickets have been pegged at Rs 350 from CST to Kalyan or Churchgate to Virar. It has also been proposed that AC and non AC trains will run alternately until the entire fleet is converted to AC trains.

Anil Bhagwat, a dabbawala, said, “We won’t be able to travel in an air conditioned train and for us, trains are very important, so if there is a gap of 15 minutes between two non air-conditioned trains, we will not be able to deliver dabbas on time. It will break our link. We do adjust to annual changes in time table by the railway but a 15 or 20 minutes gap cannot be adjusted.”

Nitin Patil (25), who transports vegetables from Vasai to Dadar, said, “If we don't catch the first train and then the second and then the third, as our vegetables go out in phases, they will reach the market late and it will hit our business as no middle man likes a delayed delivery.”

Proposed fare

• Proposed fare of travel in AC train has been pegged at Rs 350 between Churchgate to Borivali
• Current luggage pass from Churchgate to Borivali to Vasai is at Rs 315 per month
• Monthly pass of luggage from Churchgate to Borivali is Rs 495