The Central Railway (CR) has refused to allow the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) to operate a block of six hours for a second time on the Harbour line following the block-burst that occurred during the first block held on October 25.
The block was held to complete works related to increasing Harbour’s capacity from nine coaches to 12 coaches.
The MRVC, which had asked the CR for a block from 10.15 am to 5 pm last Sunday, was unable to complete the work in time and services could be resumed only by 6.25 pm, triggering chaos on the Harbour line and forcing commuters to travelling on rooftops of trains owing to burgeoning crowds.
CR divisional railway manager Amitabh Ojha said permission was not granted as a result of the block-burst that had caused panic and anger among commuters. “The MRVC had asked us for a block again; in fact this Sunday it wanted seven-hour block, instead of the six-hours last time which we refused,” said Mr Ojha
He further added that the officials have been asked to work during the four hours at night when no services are operated.
“We had told them to work during the night since the day block is risky, and if the block is held for six hours again, commuters will be heavily inconvenienced,” he added. Other officials have said that the block will not be made in the same section as last time, that is, Chunnabhatti and Vadala Road and instead, the block might be held between Vashi and Panvel instead.
“If we hold the block in the same spot for the same number of hours, commuters might get violent; so this decision was taken by senior railway officials,” said an official on condition of anonymity.
The MRVC also wants another block to create parking space for a rake at Vadala Road.
