Press Note of Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh
(मराठी में प्रेस नोट अंग्रेजी नोट के अंत में पढ़िए)
Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh
मुंबई रेल प्रवासी संघ
Press Note, Mumbai, 20 April 2026
Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh strongly raises serious concerns regarding the quality and execution of maintenance activities carried out during the Mega Block undertaken on Central Railway on Sunday, 19 April 2026.
As officially communicated, extensive maintenance and infrastructure work, including platform extension and track-related modifications, were carried out between Mulund, Thane, Diva, and Dombivli sections. These activities were expected to enhance safety and operational reliability of suburban services.
However, within hours of completion of this Mega Block, a derailment incident occurred near Dombivli railway station on the morning of 20 April 2026. Though fortunately no injuries were reported, the incident raises critical questions about the effectiveness, quality control, and supervision of the work carried out during the Mega Block in the same section.
It is deeply concerning that despite halting suburban train services for maintenance, long-distance trains were reportedly allowed to operate on the same tracks during the Mega Block period. This practice not only disrupts the maintenance process but also poses a serious threat to the safety of on-ground railway staff, including gangmen and technical workers, who are engaged in high-risk activities on live tracks.
Additionally, with the onset of severe heatwave conditions, forcing frontline workers to carry out such intensive tasks without adequate protection, scheduling adjustments, or operational safeguards reflects a lack of sensitivity towards workforce safety and welfare.
Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh firmly demands:
1. A high-level independent inquiry into the derailment incident at Dombivli and its possible linkage with the Mega Block work carried out on 19 April 2026.
2. Strict quality audits and accountability mechanisms for all Mega Block maintenance activities.
3. Immediate prohibition of long-distance train movements on tracks under maintenance during Mega Blocks.
4. Creation and strict enforcement of dedicated corridors/tracks to ensure that maintenance work is carried out in a completely safe and interruption-free environment.
5. Implementation of safety protocols and humane working conditions for railway staff, especially during extreme weather conditions.
Passenger safety cannot be compromised under any circumstances. Mega Blocks are meant to improve safety—not to raise new concerns.
Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh will continue to monitor the situation closely and, if necessary, escalate the matter to higher authorities to ensure accountability and systemic reform.
Siddhesh Desai
Vice President
Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh
काल १९ एप्रिल २०२६ रोजी मध्य रेल्वेवर मेगाब्लॉक घेऊन ठाणे–डोंबिवली दरम्यान मोठ्या प्रमाणात देखभाल व कामे करण्यात आली. मात्र त्याच्या दुसऱ्याच दिवशी डोंबिवली येथे झालेल्या डिरेलमेंटमुळे या कामांच्या दर्जावर गंभीर प्रश्न निर्माण झाले आहेत.
मेगाब्लॉकदरम्यान लोकल सेवा बंद ठेवूनही लांब पल्ल्याच्या गाड्या त्याच ट्रॅकवर चालवण्यात येतात, यामुळे देखभाल कामात अडथळा येतो तसेच ट्रॅकवर काम करणाऱ्या कर्मचाऱ्यांच्या जीवितास धोका निर्माण होतो.
सध्या उष्णतेची तीव्र लाट सुरू असताना अशा परिस्थितीत कर्मचाऱ्यांकडून काम करून घेणे हेही अत्यंत चिंताजनक आहे.
मुंबई रेल प्रवासी संघाची मागणी:
- डोंबिवली डिरेलमेंटची उच्चस्तरीय चौकशी व्हावी
- मेगाब्लॉकमधील कामांच्या गुणवत्तेचे ऑडिट करावे
- मेगाब्लॉकदरम्यान त्या ट्रॅकवर लांब पल्ल्याच्या गाड्या पूर्णपणे बंद कराव्यात
- देखभालीसाठी स्वतंत्र ट्रॅकची अंमलबजावणी करावी
प्रवाशांच्या सुरक्षेशी तडजोड सहन केली जाणार नाही.
– सिद्धेश देसाई
उपाध्यक्ष, मुंबई रेल प्रवासी संघ