Train services affected on Mumbai suburban section as technical failure halts goods train

Representational picture. PTI file photo

A goods train engine has encountered a technical failure, causing a disruption in the UP Ombermalli-Khardi section in Navi Mumbai since 11:20 AM. As a result, this crucial section of the Central Railway is temporarily blocked, impacting train services in the area.

A press statement said that efforts are underway to rectify the situation as swiftly as possible, with an assisting engine being prepared to assist the stricken train. However, the DN section (Down direction) continues to operate smoothly, providing some relief for rail travelers.

Also read: Mumbai: Finally, work on widening Dadar platform begins

Several trains have been detained behind the malfunctioning engine, and passengers on these services are experiencing delays. The affected trains include: UP Kasara-CSMT Local; 12880 Bhuvaneshwar-LTT Express; 01066 Dhule-Dadar Express.

Meanwhile, the Central Railway has begun work on the expansion of platform No. 1-2 at Dadar which had been getting overcrowded during peak hours, making it extremely difficult for the Government Railway Police (GRP) to manage the flow of people. mid-day had reported on the decision to widen the platforms in March. "Work has now begun on the widening and tracks of platform number two have been removed.

The space taken up by the tracks will be used to widen the existing platform. At present, the length of the platform is 270 metres and the width is 7 metres. An additional width of 3.5 metres will be added, making the platform 10.5 metres wide," an official said, adding that the plan is to complete the work in two months starting September 15, when the work began. The project cost is estimated at Rs 1 crore.

According to the official, the widening of width will allow for increasing width of the foot overbridge staircase. "Once the widening is complete, there will also be provision for escalators to be installed," he added. Meanwhile, all trains terminating at Dadar have been extended to Parel since the platform is shut for work.

Following a series of articles by mid-day on how the GRP at Dadar had been struggling to manage the crowd at platform No. 1-2 due to lesser width, CR's Mumbai Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Rajneesh Goyal had promised to not just widen the platform but to also chalk up a master plan of the station to create more space for passengers, including other platforms.

During his first visit to Kalyan and Thane stations after taking charge in November 2022, Goyal had said that his first priority was to decongest stations. He had asked his team to widen existing platforms and remove stalls to make it spacious. For immediate relief to decongest the Thane station, he had directed moving the halts of 18 pairs of long-distance trains to other platforms.