Mumbai Wants Its Lifeline Back: Commuters Protest, Demanding the Return of Local Train Services

New Delhi (Sputnik): Local trains are the lifelines of India’s financial capital Mumbai. Thousands of people commute across the city every day to get to work. The pandemic put a stop to commuting in March but now workers want the city to get back on track.

Commuters in Mumbai’s Nalasopara neighbourhood took to the train tracks on Wednesday, urging the rail authorities to re-start local train services. The protests started after many workers said they could not find buses to reach to their workplaces.

In a bid to get the attention of the relevant authorities, commuters gathered on the railway tracks in Nalasopara and blocked the local train track, which is currently operated for essential services only.

A team of police officials tried to barricade the area, but protestors resorted to using physical force. Videos from the scene have gone viral on social media.

​With a total of 67,586 Coronavirus cases, Mumbai is one of India’s most affected cities, and public gatherings could lead to an explosion in COVID-19 cases; authorities said, while justifying the halt to train services.

Netizens are also pointing out that such impromptu and irresponsible gatherings could therefore be a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.

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In normal circumstances, over 8.5 million people commute daily on the suburban networks spanning Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad. Currently, only around 125,000 government employees, who are engaged in essential services, are using the local train services. 

Sourse: sputniknews.com