Thane-Dombivli route has once again raised alarms, following the tragic death of a 35-year-old footwear unit co-owner last week. The commuter reportedly fell from the footboard of a slow local train near Mumbra, a chilling addition to the over 50 fatalities recorded on this congested rail stretch this year alone. Railway authorities are now under pressure to address the dangerous conditions caused by excessive passenger load, especially during peak travel times.
With daily footfall exceeding 20 lakh passengers at stations beyond Thane, the demand far outstrips the capacity of the 600 suburban services that operate in the area. Commuters from key stations such as Dombivli, Diva, Mumbra, and Kalwa often have to hang precariously from packed footboards due to a lack of space. This overwhelming rush has turned the route into one of the deadliest in the suburban rail network, as witnessed by the continuous rise in fatalities.
Transport activists have criticised the situation, noting that the introduction of additional services has been hindered by operational limitations. While the third and fourth railway lines are still being used for mail express trains, the newly constructed fifth and sixth lines remain largely underutilised. The failure to fully optimise these new lines has only exacerbated the situation. Furthermore, there are no reliable or cost-effective alternatives for commuters travelling between the distant suburbs and Mumbai, making the already saturated train services the only viable option for thousands of daily passengers.
A Mumbai Rail Passenger Association member has called for immediate action, urging the railways to shift more express trains onto the underused lines and free up space for suburban services. Without this shift, the overcrowding issue is likely to persist, with tragic consequences. Activists have also pointed out the lack of coordination between the state and central governments as a key reason for the overcrowding. There is no proper parallel road network connecting the far-flung stations with Thane or Mumbai, forcing commuters to rely solely on the congested rail system. They argue that developing parallel road infrastructure could alleviate some of the pressure on the suburban train network.
Central Railway (CR) officials have remained tight-lipped about the number of train fall incidents but have reiterated their commitment to passenger safety. Despite efforts to stagger work hours in cooperation with local businesses, the peak hour rush continues to pose significant risks. A senior CR official admitted that the network was heavily saturated and that introducing new services would require a major infrastructure upgrade. As the fatalities rise and passengers continue to face unsafe travel conditions, the call for immediate solutions has never been more urgent.
