Despite Ghatkopar station on the Central Railway not having a proper "home platform," local trains have been running between Ghatkopar and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) for several years. These six local trains were introduced to reduce overcrowding at Ghatkopar. However, passengers from Diva still face severe overcrowding, and some even lose their lives while boarding or traveling in packed trains. Yet, a direct local train between Diva and CSMT has not been started. Passengers feel that the railway authorities are neglecting the needs of Diva commuters.
Local trains on the Central Railway are often delayed, causing inconvenience and late arrivals for passengers. Due to capacity issues, the Central Railway is unable to increase the number of local trains to handle the growing crowd. In this situation, running Ghatkopar-CSMT locals—despite the lack of proper infrastructure—adds to the delays. These trains also affect the timing of other services, with an additional 15 to 20 minutes being lost.
Also Read: CIDCO introduces QR-Based ticketing system in Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1
Passenger groups have demanded that these Ghatkopar locals be extended up to Diva, or that a special train be started from Diva to CSMT. Currently, local trains from CSMT to Ghatkopar run at 8:37 AM, 9:09 AM, and 9:57 AM, while return trains from Ghatkopar to CSMT operate at 9:16 AM, 9:46 AM, and 10:35 AM.
If a local leaves CSMT for Diva at 7:20 AM, the same train could potentially return from Diva at around 8:31 AM. Passenger associations also believe that local services between Vidyavihar and Diva, as well as Diva to CSMT, are possible and should be considered.
Share
Tweet
