Pune-Mumbai daily passengers suffer due to non-availability of trains
Sushant Ranjan
Pune June 20, 2020: More than 2,000 daily passengers who travel between Pune and Mumbai are suffering a lot after several state government offices have made it mandatory to join the office and be present at work. The offices including Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), district collector office in Mumbai and others have reopened fully in this unlock phase.
Trains between Pune-Mumbai haven’t resumed yet: Due to the lockdown, the employees were unable to go to offices in Mumbai. These daily passengers travelled regularly to Mumbai by trains including Deccan Queen, Pragati Express and Sinhagad Express, also from State transport buses.
Now, as the trains are not running between these two cities, employees have been spending hefty amount daily to reach the office via private vehicle. They are paying over Rs 1,000 per day to go to the office.
The morning trains would generally be packed with these passengers including officials, employees, professionals, lawyers from various government offices, banks and private offices. The Pune-Mumbai journey was canceled after the service was disrupted due to lockdown. Concerned officials were also instructed not to be present at work. So there were no problems. But now in the unlock phase, it has been made mandatory for employees to be present at work.
Employees spend double to travel to Mumbai: Ankita Deshpande, Employee, Mumbai Municipal Corporation said, “Since we have to go to Mumbai every day, four or five people have to come together and take a private vehicle. The daily cost for this is Rs 5000 to 6000. There is no other option but to use a private vehicle. Therefore, it is necessary to start railways for at least the essential service personnel.”
Another employee Rohini Danane, Staff, Collector Office, Mumbai said, “Earlier, we had to go to the office once a week. But now we have to go every day in a private vehicle in groups of three or four. Each is costing around Rs 1,500. Many people come to Mumbai every day. It is necessary to arrange a train or bus for them. If the train starts, the inconvenience of many will be avoided.”
Thousands of daily passengers traveled Pune-Mumbai: An Intercity Express carries 1,300 to 1,500 passengers from Pune to Mumbai. At least three trains leave Pune for Mumbai in the morning. These trains carry 4,000 to 4,500 passengers daily to Mumbai. They go to Kalyan, Thane, Dadar and CSMT. But as the railway service is not operational, there is no option except private vehicles.
Trains running between Pune-Mumbai :
– Deccan Queen
– Pragati Express
– Sinhagad Express
– Deccan Express
– Intercity Express
– Indrayani Express
