Central Railway has stopped playing Bhojpuri songs at selected Mumbai railway stations after commuter groups objected to the broadcasts, saying they were played at high volume and raised concerns about linguistic identity, religious neutrality and the use of public-address systems.
The songs had been played ahead of Chhath Puja at stations including Thane, Ambivli and others on Mumbai’s suburban network. Central Railway officials said festival-related songs were also played at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, where special trains were being operated for the festival.
Central Railway chief spokesperson Dr Swapnil Nila told Mid-Day that songs and jingles linked to different occasions are played at stations. He said the Chhath-related songs were broadcast only during intervals when essential passenger information and train announcements were not being made. The broadcasts have since been stopped, he said.
The issue was raised by members of the Kalyan-Kasara-Karjat Railway Passengers’ Association, who demanded that the officials responsible for authorising the broadcasts be identified and that disciplinary action be considered if any violation was found. Association representative Rajesh Ghanghav alleged that some officials in the Central Railway administration had repeatedly shown disregard for Marathi, the official language of Maharashtra.
Ghanghav said the association was not opposed to Chhath Puja or the religious practices of any community. However, he objected to the songs being played in a manner that he said disregarded Mumbai’s and Maharashtra’s linguistic and cultural identity.
Commuter activist Shailesh Raut said railway officials should focus on passenger safety and amenities instead of creating controversies through their actions. Activist Lata Argade questioned why Marathi songs were not played for local festivals and raised concerns about what she described as unequal treatment of regional celebrations.
The Marathi Ekikaran Samiti Maharashtra State has submitted a formal complaint to the Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai, regarding religious songs and messages broadcast through railway public-address systems during Chhath Puja on the Central and Harbour lines.
In its complaint, the committee asked whether such broadcasts are permitted under railway rules and whether similar facilities are available for other religious and cultural festivals. It also sought details of the permissions granted, the applicable rules and the effect of such broadcasts on passenger safety and essential announcements.
The committee requested an investigation, appropriate action if rules were breached and a written response from railway authorities. Its complaint places the focus on how a public transport institution uses station announcement infrastructure, particularly when that infrastructure is also required for operational information, safety instructions and emergency communication.
Central Railway has not indicated any further action beyond stopping the broadcasts. The questions raised by the commuter groups and the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti remain linked to the permissions, rules and administrative process governing non-operational audio content at railway stations.
