To ease the burden on Mumbai’s suburban railways, the Maharashtra government is considering implementing staggered office timings for government and semi-government offices in Mumbai city and the Mumbai suburban districts.
A committee headed by Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar has been formed to examine the feasibility of this proposal and submit its recommendations, according to an NDTV Marathi report.
With rapid urbanisation, the number of daily commuters on Mumbai’s suburban trains continues to rise, leading to a significant increase in accidental deaths — often caused by overcrowding and passengers boarding or hanging from moving trains.
In the last three years alone, 7,565 passengers have lost their lives in various railway accidents. Between Thane and Kalyan, 741 passengers died just last year. Recently, five passengers were killed and nine injured in a train accident in Mumbra.
During the monsoon session of the legislature, the opposition criticised the government over the safety of suburban railway passengers. In response, the government assured the House that it would hold discussions with the Union Railway Minister and take steps to improve passenger safety.
