Mumbai Local Trains to Soon Have AC Coaches with No Fare Hike: CM Devendra Fadnavis
Mumbai AC Local Trains’ Automatic Doors open only at stations, enhancing passenger safety
Following tragic Mumbra accident, government promises overhaul of suburban trains for commuter safety.
In a major development aimed at enhancing commuter safety and comfort, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that all coaches of Mumbai’s suburban trains will soon be replaced with air-conditioned ones equipped with automatic doors and without any increase in ticket fares. This decision follows a recent tragic incident in Mumbra, where five commuters lost their lives after falling from two overcrowded local trains passing each other on June 9.
Speaking in the state assembly on Friday, Fadnavis confirmed that the Central government has approved the long-standing demand for safer coaches on Mumbai locals. “We requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to introduce Metro-like coaches in suburban trains, without burdening commuters with a fare hike. Today, the railway minister, who was in Mumbai, informed me that the Centre has agreed, and an official announcement will follow shortly,” he said.
He further clarified that rather than retrofitting existing coaches, the suburban trains will be upgraded with brand-new air-conditioned rakes fitted with automatic doors. “These new coaches will ensure better safety for daily commuters, especially in peak hours when overcrowding leads to dangerous travel conditions,” he added.
The issue of safety on Mumbai’s local trains has long been a concern. State transport minister Pratap Sarnaik recently revealed that over 7,500 people have died and more than 7,200 were injured in the past three years due to accidents involving local trains. The matter was taken up for serious discussion in the assembly, where Sarnaik also proposed a special task force to consider staggered work hours in the private sector to reduce rush-hour congestion.
Fadnavis remarked, “Accidents are happening because of open-door coaches. There is now a stark divide between those who travel safely on the metro and those who are forced to travel dangerously on overcrowded locals. This must change.”
In addition, the Chief Minister shared updates on Metro connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. “Two phases of Metro Line 3 have already opened. We are targeting full operation of the Colaba to Aarey-JVLR stretch by October. Work on 13 more routes, including from Vikhroli to Mandalay and Thane to Kalyan, is also progressing steadily.”
He also introduced a game-changing development for urban mobility, an integrated ticketing system currently under trial. Once implemented, a single ticket will allow seamless travel across multiple modes of transport including metro, local trains, monorail, BEST buses, and even water transport. “This ticket will also be available on WhatsApp,” Fadnavis stated, adding with a hint of humor, “though the election ticket, of course, won’t be available there.”
This transformative move promises to redefine daily commuting in Mumbai, offering a safer, more comfortable, and integrated experience for millions.
