Mumbai News: Banner Hanging On Overhead Wire Disrupts CSMT–Panvel Harbour Line, Causes Major Train Delays

Mumbai: Suburban train services of Central Railway on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)–Panvel harbour line were disrupted on Monday afternoon after a banner was found hanging on the overhead wire between Mankhurd and Vashi stations.

According to Central Railway officials, the incident occurred around 3:44 pm, leading to the immediate suspension of train movement between Mankhurd and Vashi on the down (Panvel-bound) harbour line. The obstruction resulted in bunching of trains, causing cascading delays across both up and down lines.

“A banner was noticed hanging on the overhead wire between Mankhurd and Vashi. Upon receiving the information, concerned railway staff reached the spot and removed the obstruction,” said a senior Central Railway official. Train services on the affected section were restored in less than an hour, the official added.

However, due to the bunching and cascading effect, commuters reported delays of 15 to 20 minutes on local services on the harbour line well into the evening.

Several passengers expressed frustration over the delay on different social media platforms, especially during evening hours when footfall is relatively high. While services gradually resumed, the impact of the disruption continued to affect schedules for some time.