Mumbai: Every day, I hope to finish work in time to board the 12.25 am Karjat local, the last train from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to get home to Dombivli. Last Saturday (May 11), I managed to finish on time and rushed to the station, only to be greeted by the unlikely spectacle of a huge crowd and the new LED indicators flashing “No Trains”, save for the one going to Bandra.
There were announcements being made but in the prevailing confusion, I could barely catch a word. I asked a fellow passenger what was happening. He said, due to “urgent maintenance” work between Sion and Kurla, all services in this direction had been cancelled after 11.45pm.
I was taken aback to hear this because I had no advance information. Now, I was stranded with the teeming crowds, including women and children, at this odd hour. All of us had but one thought: What an illogical and arbitrary move by Central Railway.
Some youths had already gathered in front of the deputy station master’s office. They were arguing, asking how could CR cancel the last train, just like that? Slowly, the number of agitators began to grow and now, some women also joined them. But the authorities had no clear explanation forthcoming, except to say they had already informed the public about this block through media.
Not just this, they also pointed to a board outside the station manager’s office, which said a block would be observed from 11.45pm on Saturday due to maintenance work between Sion and Kurla stations. In a city where people have no other thought but the single-minded one of catching their train back home after work, I wondered who on earth had noticed this board.
The argument between the passengers and the railway officials was heating up. Passengers were demanding alternative arrangements to go back home, which the authorities flatly refused to consider, initially. The crowd was becoming restive by the minute and was adamant in its demand. Finally, the station manager emerged from his cabin and spoke to the passengers. They reiterated their demand. By now, it was 2.15am.
Finally, the station master agreed to arrange a bus till Kurla, from where passengers could board the first train starting from there at 4.40am. Around 2.30am, a special BEST bus arrived from Colaba Depot and stood by the ‘Selfie Point’, to take us to Kurla station. Thus, we embarked on our journey to a sleepless night.
