By Rafique Shaikh, Mumbra Pravasi Sangh
On behalf of the thousands of commuters in Mumbai suburbs, Mumbra and the entire Central Line, I would like to ask the railway administration a simple and pointed question: How does a train derail just hours after the mega block ends?
Every Sunday, we commuters sacrifice our time, our jobs, and our family’s happiness. We endure the hassle of “mega blocks” in the hope that the tracks we travel on are being made safer. We’re told these blocks are for “essential maintenance” and “technical improvements.” But it’s been seen time and again that all the “safety” of the blocks is undone as soon as the first train rolls onto the tracks.
Our serious concerns:
• Result of haste: Is engineering being compromised under pressure to complete the block on time? Derailment so soon after maintenance indicates that either the track alignment was poor or the ballast had weak grip.
• Quality of inspection: Who certifies the track as “fit for travel” after a block? If an accident occurs within an hour, it is clear evidence of administrative and technical negligence.
• Mental stress for passengers: We not only lose time, we also lose our peace of mind. Now, even a minor jolt on the track raises the fear of a major accident.
Our demand:
We don’t need “investigation committees” or “promises of compensation.” We want accountability. If a track fails immediately after maintenance, strict action should be taken against the officials responsible.
We appeal to Central Railway: Stop treating the mega block as a mere ritual and take it as a responsibility. Passengers at Mumbra and other stations buy tickets with their hard-earned money—don’t force us to pay with our lives.
Rafique Shaikh, Mumbra Pravasi Sangh