Mumbai Local Rush: Minister Urges Private Offices to Implement Flexible Work Hours
Mumbai Local Rush: Minister Urges Private Offices to Implement Flexible Work Hours
State move to reduce peak-hour congestion; discussions on AC trains at same fare underway
In a bid to decongest Mumbai’s jam-packed local trains, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has announced a significant change: government employees are now allowed to begin work 30 minutes later than usual. This measure, while seemingly minor, is expected to offer substantial relief to thousands of daily commuters.
Addressing the Assembly, Sarnaik said that the shift in office timings is aimed at reducing the pressure on both government offices and the city’s overburdened rail system. Employees will have to compensate by working 30 minutes longer in the evening, maintaining total work hours.
The move follows rising concerns over local train accidents and daily commuter discomfort. “Mumbai locals are the city’s lifeline, but they’re bursting at the seams,” Sarnaik said. “The goal is not just to relieve congestion but to prevent the daily jostle and risk faced by lakhs of passengers.”
BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar had earlier raised the alarming increase in local train mishaps, prompting this time-shift decision. In response, Sarnaik assured that a study group will soon be formed to examine staggered work schedules for private sector offices too. While the state cannot legally enforce these changes, Sarnaik appealed to private companies for cooperation. “They must understand their staff use the same trains. For public safety, change is necessary,” he urged.
In another key development, Sarnaik revealed ongoing talks with the Union Railways Ministry to convert all local trains into air-conditioned coaches, but without changing the current fare structure. “AC trains with closed doors can help prevent accidents caused by overcrowding and people falling off moving trains,” he noted.
He also mentioned that the government is actively encouraging the use of metro trains and other public transport alternatives to share the commuter load. With over 70 lakh people depending on the local train network daily, the state government’s steps both immediate and long-term aim to make public commuting safer and more humane.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is also expected to hold a meeting soon to address the spike in local train accidents and explore further commuter-friendly measures.
