Tilted Girder Disrupts Mumbai's Lifeline: Chaos on Thane-Vashi Train Route

A tilted girder halted local train services between Thane and Vashi for over four hours, affecting thousands of commuters. Services resumed after 11:30 am, with alternatives like buses and auto rickshaws used in interim. The MMRDA launched the girders for an Airoli-Katai Naka link road project.

In a major disruption to the daily commute, thousands of passengers faced inconveniences on Friday morning as the Central Railway halted local train services between Thane and Vashi for more than four hours. The stoppage, caused by a tilted girder launched for a bridge, prolonged the morning rush hour chaos.

Services were restored post 11:30 am, an official confirmed, yet commuters expressed frustration over extended delays. The girder installation, part of the new Airoli-Katai Naka link road project by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), experienced issues when one girder tilted, leading to safety concerns and service suspension.

Forced to seek alternative routes, passengers utilized buses and auto rickshaws to reach destinations. In the meantime, local transport authorities introduced 41 additional bus services, while Central Railway permitted travel via alternate corridors. With suburban trains being the city's transport backbone, the disruption underlined the network's critical role, as it supports over 75 lakh daily passengers.

(With inputs from agencies.)