Commuter congestion has significantly increased at Panvel Railway Station on the Harbour Line, with passengers often facing near-stampede-like situations. The issue has intensified after Central Railway introduced additional AC local train services on this route.
Currently, 94 AC local train services operate on Central Railway, of which 14 services were introduced on the Harbour Line about two months ago. Instead of adding new slots, these AC trains replaced existing regular (non-AC) local services within the same timetable. As a result, 14 regular trains across morning, afternoon, and evening peak hours were converted into AC locals, reducing the availability of non-AC trains.
This has disrupted the schedule of regular trains and led to increased crowding at stations. Many passengers reported that AC locals frequently run late. For instance, a train scheduled to depart Panvel at 9:09 AM often leaves around 9:26 AM, causing delays for subsequent trains at 9:17, 9:28, and 9:32 AM. This cascading delay further worsens overcrowding.
Since a majority of commuters still rely on non-AC trains, the reduced frequency has resulted in long waiting times and heavily packed compartments. By the time regular trains arrive, they are already overcrowded, leaving many passengers stranded on platforms.
The situation at Panvel station is particularly critical because it serves as a major junction for Harbour Line commuters as well as passengers arriving from nearby areas like Pen and Roha. Additionally, infrastructure challenges add to the problem, commuters heading toward New Panvel must climb a staircase of nearly 70 steps. When passengers from multiple routes converge at the same time, these staircases become choke points, creating dangerous, stampede-like conditions.
Fare differences have also raised concerns among commuters. The distance between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Panvel is about 49 km, with an AC local monthly pass costing INR 2225. In comparison, the same distance to Dombivli costs INR 2050. Meanwhile, non-AC monthly passes are significantly cheaper INR 370 for the Harbour Line versus INR 300 for the CSMT–Dombivli route Prompting passengers to question the pricing disparity.