The British-era Carnac bridge located between the CSMT-Masjid stations became history on Sunday. The Central Railway had undertaken a 27-hour block for dismantling the infra but wrapped up the work before time. Main line local services were restored 10 minutes before the scheduled block and harbour line services started more than two hours before the scheduled block time.
“Services on the main line were supposed to start at 4 pm, but we completed the work before time. The first train on the main line departed at 3.50 pm, ten minutes before the scheduled time of block,” said the rail officials. On the harbour line, services were supposed to resume at 8 pm but the first local departed at 5.52 pm, they added.
Elaborate arrangements like public announcements, security at railway stations and additional BEST services were in place to ensure that passengers were not inconvenienced due to the block.
Helpdesks were provided at prominent stations like CSMT, Byculla, Dadar, Thane, Vadala Road and Panvel, Nasik and Pune. “Information about the block and its repercussions were published in newspapers and electronic media and also widely circulated through bulk SMS and official social media handles of the CR,” said the officials.
Passengers shared ordeals of hassled travel
However, passengers said that they still experienced hassles. “There was chaos at the CSMT and Byculla railway stations on Saturday night when the block started. Although the CR had made announcements, several commuters and tourists were caught off guard. State agencies had deployed buses but there should have been more services,” said Rajesh Shinde, 45, from Kalyan, who was forced to travel by taxi from the CSMT up to Byculla.
On Sunday, several passengers had to wait for nearly an hour for buses outside the Byculla and Vadala stations. “I was supposed to visit Kalbadevi. I waited for the bus for at least one hour at Vadala, and finally cancelled my schedule,” said Kunal Shah,56, from Vadala.
The BEST administration claimed that apart from more than two dozen additional buses, several buses of other routes were diverted on the affected section for the convenience of passengers.
