Mumbai: A controversial proposal by the Central Railway’s (CR) Mumbai division to overhaul the suburban railway system by segregating it into sector-wise corridors—akin to metro train operations—has ignited widespread backlash from commuters and railway officials alike.

Originally presented to the Railway Minister last year, the proposal aims to increase suburban train frequency to one every three minutes during peak hours by dividing the existing network into eight operational corridors.

These would include routes such as CSMT-Thane (slow), Thane-Kalyan (slow), Kalyan-Kasara (slow), CSMT-Kalyan (fast), CSMT-Panvel (slow), Belapur-Uran (slow), and Thane-Nerul/Vashi (slow), among others.

Although the presentation claims that this move could transform Mumbai’s local train operations, a fierce debate has erupted over the practicality of the leaked proposal.

“This proposal is unadulterated absurdity. The person who prepared it has no idea about Mumbai and has clearly never used the Mumbai suburban network as a means of transport for work,” said former General Manager of Central Railway, Subodh Jain

According to a senior CR official, who declined to be named, “The plan may look good on paper, but in reality, it’s completely impractical. It would involve mass transhipment of passengers at busy junctions like Thane and Kalyan—already under tremendous pressure.”

“Catching one train itself is a big hassle—now imagine the inconvenience of changing 3 to 4 trains in a single journey and the extra time lost at each station,” said a senior Central Railway officer.

“The crowding at transhipment stations will be unimaginable. Passengers who manage to get a seat in the first train will likely lose it in the connecting train, as those already standing will rush to board first.”

The elaborate plan (FPJ has a copy) involves running services sector-wise — with the first sector operating only between CSMT and Thane on the slow line, the second sector covering CSMT to Kalyan on the fast line, and the third sector managing operations between Thane and Kalyan on the slow corridor, as well as Kalyan to Kasara and Kalyan to Karjat.

While the presentation made by the Mumbai Division under the leadership of the then Divisional Railway Manager, Rajnish Goyal, claims that sector-wise operations could boost efficiency and frequency, even internal voices remain skeptical.

The concerns are not just logistical but also practical—crowding at transhipment points, loss of seating priority, added travel time, and passenger confusion could worsen the already strained infrastructure.

Sources within CR have hinted that the proposal may have been “deliberately leaked” this week, rekindling both internal debates and public scrutiny.

Passengers, who form the backbone of Mumbai’s lifeline, expressed their frustration across social media platforms and in interviews.

Jayant Sathe, a daily commuter from Kalyan, remarked, “Whoever designed this plan clearly doesn’t understand Mumbai’s suburban travel. Changing trains at Thane after boarding from Badlapur? That’s completely unrealistic.”

The proposal has also drawn sharp criticism online. Devesh Tiwari posted on X (formerly Twitter), “This is a stupid plan. It will create horrible bottlenecks at terminal stations. Why can’t CR reduce headway to 120 or 90 seconds during peak hours? It’s simple tech, but there’s zero willpower to implement it.”

Another internet User @warrenbhai added posted on X “Changing and crossing FOBs will be a nightmare. A lot of us catch up on sleep during the long travel. That won’t be possible anymore.”

Another commuter, Kumar Saket, called the proposal the “joke of the month,” while Bharat Soni criticized what he termed the “Reel Minister” for making hollow promises, stating:

“What’s new in promising 3-min frequency? WR already does that. CR used to run locals every 5 minutes up to Kalyan. Try giving us 15-min services up to Kasara and Karjat—that would be actual progress.”

@smartkalyan7 posted on X “Instead of this jumlabazi, build a new line between Kalyan and Borivali. Thousands waste time commuting to the western suburbs via Dadar.”

Mumbai: A floral tribute was offered today at the statue of late Meenatai Thackeray at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park, followed by an inspection of the site.

Speaking on the occasion, leaders said that the affection Shiv Sainiks hold for late Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray is equally deep for late Meenatai Thackeray, who had left behind a legacy of warmth and family values.

Strongly condemning the recent act of vandalism against the statue, they emphasized that such incidents, motivated by personal malice, will not be tolerated. The accused has already been arrested, and police interrogation is underway.

Authorities also reviewed the security arrangements around the statue and Shivaji Park. It was announced that immediate measures would be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future. Necessary funds have been approved for enhanced security, and as per the directives of Shiv Sena chief leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, additional resources will be provided.

The statue of Meenatai Thackeray at Shivaji Park, along with another at Khed, were installed under the initiative of senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam, creating an emotional bond with Shiv Sainiks since their childhood.

Former corporator Samadhan Sarvankar, DCP Zone-5 Mahendra Pandit, and other police officials were present during the visit.

Mumbai: Medical students, resident doctors, and interns at Grant Government Medical College (GGMC) and Sir J. J. Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, will stage a token strike on Thursday in solidarity with several national medical bodies opposing the inclusion of homeopaths into the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC).

The strike has been called in opposition to the state government’s decision to allow homeopathic practitioners to be included in the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) after completion of the bridge course, Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP).

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI), and Government Medical College Students’ Association (GMCSA) confirmed that they will join the Central MARD, Maharashtra State Resident Doctors’ Association (MSRDA), Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in their protest.

According to the organisers, the strike began with a gathering at the JJ Hospital Amphitheatre at 9:30 am, followed by a media interaction. The strike has been termed token in nature and the associations clarified that all emergency and critical medical services will remain fully operational to ensure patients are not adversely affected.

The associations argue that merging homeopathic practitioners into the allopathic medical council blurs the boundaries between two fundamentally different systems of medicine. They stress that such a move not only compromises the integrity of allopathic practice but could also lead to confusion in regulation and accountability.

Resident doctors and medical interns at JJ Hospital said they had coordinated the strike in a way that ensures minimal disruption to patient care. Outpatient services and routine check-ups may see delays, but senior doctors and staff are expected to step in to manage patient load.

Meanwhile, medical services at Rajiv Gandhi Government Medical College (RGMC) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital (CSMH), Thane, are likely to be affected on Thursday as resident doctors joined a statewide strike called by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD). The protest began at 10:30 am with a demonstration staged outside the Outpatient Department (OPD) building’s main gate.