Commuters on Mumbai's busy Western Railway line are set to face significant disruptions in the coming weeks due to scheduled maintenance work. In a proactive move to manage the expected rush, the Western Railway authorities have formally requested the city's bus transport utility to deploy additional services.
Official Request for Additional Bus Services
On Monday, the Western Railway (WR) administration wrote a letter to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking. The core request was for the introduction of supplementary bus services to assist passengers who will be impacted by widespread local train cancellations. These cancellations are a direct result of pre-planned maintenance blocks related to the ambitious sixth line project on the section between Kandivli and Borivli.
Responding to the request, the BEST authorities have formulated a plan to position extra buses outside key railway stations along the Western line corridor. This measure is specifically designed to cater to the anticipated surge of commuters seeking alternative travel options.
Details of the Rail Blocks and Cancellations
The maintenance blocks on WR's suburban network are currently in effect and are scheduled to continue until January 18. This prolonged period of engineering work has already led to the cancellation of numerous local train services, causing inconvenience to daily passengers.
However, the period of most severe disruption is pinpointed to be between December 26 and December 30. During these five days, the frequency of train cancellations is set to increase substantially. The official communication from Western Railway highlighted that these blocks would affect services across the suburban lines, inevitably leading to passenger inconvenience.
Mitigation Plan and Key Routes
To soften the impact on Mumbai's harried commuters, WR officials have outlined specific routes where enhanced bus connectivity is critically needed. In their letter to BEST, they have explicitly asked for increased bus services on two major corridors:
- Between Borivli and Churchgate stations, covering the southern part of the line.
- Between Borivli and Virar, catering to the northern suburban stretch.
This targeted approach aims to provide viable alternatives for passengers traveling both towards South Mumbai and the extended western suburbs. The collaboration between the railway and bus service is a crucial step in ensuring that the city's lifeline transport system continues to function, albeit with temporary adjustments. Commuters are advised to plan their journeys in advance and factor in additional travel time during this period.
