Private Firm Employees Hold Second Protest Demanding Entry on Local Trains

With Mumbai’s local trains currently allowing only essential workers and government employees to travel, office goers are currently facing several hardships with regard to travel, even as the State Government has announced a new wave of reopening as part of ‘Mission Begin Again’.

Under these circumstances, office goers held a protest on Monday demanding permission to travel via local trains. This happens to be the second such protest over a 3-day period with nearly 200 office-goers holding a protest outside Borivali Station on Saturday as State Transport buses couldn’t arrive on time owing to traffic. The second protest on Monday was carried out near Virar Railway Station. 

As for travelling via buses, office goers complained that it can turn out to be more expensive in the long run, while there aren’t enough buses plying on the streets either. Not to mention the fact that buses can seldom arrive on time given the traffic conditions during peak hours.  

Read - Mumbai Local Trains Can Resume From November 1: TIFR Report

For Monday’s protest, private firm employees gathered outside Virar Railway Station, though they did not enter the station premises. These workers contended that metro services have begun in other cities, so it’s only fair that they are allowed to travel via local trains.

The protest lasted for around 30 minutes, while the police arrived on the scene to pacify the frustrated crowd. The protestors were then seen heading towards the bus depot. “What is the logic behind shutting train services when buses are packed and social distancing cannot be maintained? I am risking it all to keep my job," one office goer said while speaking to TOI.

On Saturday’s protest following the delay of State Transport buses, Transport Officer of the Palghar division, Ashish Chaudhari said - "We are operating 354 trips to different locations between Virar and south Mumbai every day. Trips have been increased following a surge in passenger volumes. But the problem is fewer bus drivers and conductors. They are fearful of coronavirus and only about 35% of them are reporting to work." 

As for local trains, even though the State has allowed travel of essential employees, a memorandum sent by the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh to the State Governor said that many emergency workers are still not allowed to travel by local trains, hinting at loopholes in the process.