Mumbai rains suspend suburban train services on Central and Harbour lines
Mumbai’s suburban rail network, the city’s indispensable lifeline, was brought to a grinding halt on Tuesday after relentless rains led to extensive waterlogging across key corridors. Services on the Central and Harbour lines were suspended, forcing thousands of daily commuters to grapple with long delays, uncertainty and overcrowding at major stations.
Railway officials confirmed that operations between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Thane were suspended indefinitely after nearly a foot of water submerged the tracks. Similarly, Harbour line services between CSMT and Kurla were halted from late morning as floodwaters from the overflowing Mithi river inundated Chunnabhatti station. Shuttle services were diverted to run only on outer sections towards Karjat, Khopoli and Kasara to ensure partial connectivity.
The suspensions came after hours of erratic services earlier in the day, with officials urging commuters to avoid unnecessary travel. The Western Railway too reported delays due to track flooding in low-lying sections, adding to the chaos. For many Mumbaikars, the images of submerged tracks evoked a familiar sense of déjà vu a reminder of how vulnerable the city’s infrastructure remains to seasonal downpours despite years of mitigation promises.Railway engineers explained that the suspension was inevitable given the rising water levels and safety risks. Tracks in low-lying areas often act as stormwater channels during heavy rain, making train operations unsafe. “The system is designed to withstand moderate rainfall, but extreme bursts of precipitation can overwhelm the drainage network in minutes,” said an official.
Urban planners argue that these recurring breakdowns highlight the urgent need for resilient, climate-conscious infrastructure planning. “The suburban railway moves over 70 lakh passengers daily. A single day of disruption exposes how unprepared Mumbai remains in handling extreme weather, which is now a predictable part of monsoon patterns,” said a transport expert.The incident also underscores wider issues of urban planning from inadequate drainage to unchecked construction along natural floodplains. Environmentalists insist that long-term solutions must prioritise restoring natural water channels, upgrading pumping systems, and integrating climate resilience into transport investments. Without these, temporary fixes such as elevated tracks or stormwater pumps may only offer partial relief.
While railway authorities worked to restore services by evening, stranded commuters endured overcrowded buses, surging taxi fares and long waits at metro stations. For a city dependent on its suburban trains, the disruption carried economic as well as social costs.As climate change intensifies rainfall events, Mumbai faces a pressing choice: continue firefighting after every flood-induced breakdown or invest decisively in sustainable, future-ready mobility infrastructure that can withstand the monsoon’s fury.
