Mumbai’s Central Railway has announced a four-hour mega block on Sunday, sparking discontent among thousands of Ganesh devotees travelling to prominent pandals. The scheduled maintenance, spanning critical track, signalling, and overhead wire works, will directly affect suburban halts at Chinchpokli and Currey Road—stations that serve as vital entry points for devotees heading to Lalbaugcha Raja and Chinchpokli Chintamani.
For many residents, Sunday is traditionally the busiest day for Ganpati Darshan, with large gatherings expected across the city. The block, running from 10:55 am to 3:55 pm, will divert suburban services and suspend halts at key locations. Civic experts have voiced concern that while infrastructure upgrades are necessary, the timing could have been reconsidered to accommodate the festive surge. Railway officials emphasised that the works are part of a long-term plan to ensure passenger safety and reliable services. According to the block schedule, trains from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) towards Vidyavihar will be rerouted to fast lines, limiting halts to select stations such as Dadar, Byculla and Kurla. Services from Ghatkopar towards CSMT will follow a similar diversion pattern.
The Harbour Line will see additional cancellations between Kurla and Vashi, affecting services to Panvel and Belapur. Special trains are planned to partially bridge connectivity gaps, and passengers have been allowed to use the Thane–Vashi–Nerul corridor on existing tickets during the block hours. Rail commuters, however, expressed frustration over the disruption’s timing. “This block is necessary for safety, but the overlap with Ganesh festival days adds to public hardship,” a senior civic transport expert noted, pointing to the cultural significance of easy accessibility during the season. Thousands of devotees rely on suburban rail to visit pandals sustainably, as private vehicles would exacerbate congestion, pollution, and carbon emissions in an already strained city.
Transport planners argue that maintenance during festive seasons should be aligned more sensitively, particularly when public sentiment and religious gatherings are at their peak. They stress that mass transit disruptions during high-demand days undermine not only mobility but also sustainable commuting efforts that Mumbai is attempting to strengthen. Western Railway, meanwhile, will operate without any daytime blocks on Sunday, ensuring uninterrupted suburban services on its corridors. This contrast, experts argue, highlights the importance of coordinated planning across railway zones to minimise inconvenience.
As the city balances critical infrastructure upgrades with the needs of its people, the episode underscores a broader urban dilemma—how to ensure safety, efficiency, and sustainability in transport systems without eroding public trust during moments of cultural importance.
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