City Pulse

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Lack of clean drinking water, broken seats in trains and stations, uneven railway platforms and badly maintained toilets. For the average Mumbaikar, their daily travel in the city’s lifeline - the local trains - is a harrowing one.   

Commuters complain that they have learnt to "adjust" to the ever-crowded local trains but some basic necessities like water and toilets would make their daily travel a tad bit easier.

"At the canteen in Nallasopara, I can get only one glass of water free,” says Hanumantha Monapakare. “If I want more I'll have to buy a bottle of water. But at Rs 15 per bottle, it is not possible for every commuter to buy water daily.”

At Virar station, only platform #1 has drinking water tap. If one is thirsty and is on another platform, they will have to come to platform no. 1 to drink water.

However, railway officials beg to differ.

“We have installed water dispensing units in several stations. Water from these dispensers is sold for Rs 5 per litre if one carries an empty bottle,” says AK Jain, senior PRO (Central Railway), Mumbai. “There are water vending machines in 36 stations. Another 30 will soon have one.”

Beyond access to clean water, overcrowded trains is yet another worrying tale.

“People can’t get into trains or exit trains at stations they want to, because the trains are so crowded,” says Suresh Bhuavad.

Travelling in Mumbai local trains is fraught with risk to life and limb. People have no choice but to hang precariously out of trains and risk their lives commuting daily.

Women and children find it very difficult to board crowded trains. "Central Line is the worst. On Western Line trains, people at least let you squeeze your way into the train, but on Central Line locals, nobody listens or cares. I wish there were more trains at quick intervals,” says Pinky Gangayya.

For women, lack of toilets on platforms is another major problem.  “Toilets are there only on some platforms. You can’t expect us to run from one platform to another to go to a toilet,” says Pinky, who commutes daily from Thane station.

Commuters also reveal that since the advent of the new trains, there is an increased gap between the footboard of the train and the platform. This gap in some stations has caused many people to fall and slip into the tracks causing loss of limbs or life. 

“The height difference between train and platform should be rectified immediately. It is difficult for children and senior citizens to board trains,” says commuter Pooja Gawas.

Jain agrees that the wide gap is a problem which the introduction of new trains brought to the fore. "The platforms are old but the trains across all lines are new. After we noticed the wide gap and heard the complaints, we increased the height of 91 platforms. It is an ongoing process and we are correcting the height difference on a priority basis," he said.

Mumbai’s stations see a footfall of 8 million passengers a day. Dadar station alone witnesses over six lakh footfall per day. But when it comes to facilities like toilets, seating at stations and drinking water availability, they are too less.

“To use the toilet means I have to shell out Rs 7/- out of my pocket. Stations should have toilets on every platform and drinking water, too. It is like they have made provisions for 10 people when there are 100 wanting them,” adds Shivaji. “And over-crowded trains are like deathtraps. I have seen people colliding with electric poles near Malad.”

Jain dismisses all these complaints with assurances and a ready smile.

“There are toilets at all stations. In the city, 67 stations have pay and use toilets and they are clean and well maintained too,” he adds.

Fact is, the railways get away with all these failings and shortcomings also because the Mumbai train commuter is always on a tight schedule, with no time to complain and resolve.