August 30, 2025: Central Railway will carry out a five-hour mega block on Sunday, between 10:55 am and 3:55 pm, to undertake maintenance and repair work on railway tracks, the signalling system and overhead wires. The block is expected to disrupt suburban services and cause major inconvenience to Ganesh devotees travelling to prominent pandals across the city.
During this period, suburban trains will not halt at Chinchpokli and Currey Road stations. Thousands of worshippers rely on these stops to visit popular mandals such as Lalbaugcha Raja and Chinchpokli’s Chintamani, and the disruption has led to widespread disappointment. Sundays usually witness heavy turnout at these pandals due to the holiday, and many devotees have criticised the timing of the block.
“This maintenance work is crucial for the safe and efficient running of trains, but the timing has upset many devotees during Ganeshotsav,” said Mahesh Chavan, a resident of Dadar. Commuters and local residents have urged authorities to avoid scheduling such work on peak festive days.
On the Main Line between CSMT and Vidyavihar, down slow trains leaving CSMT between 10:48 am and 3:45 pm will be diverted to the fast line and will stop only at Byculla, Parel, Dadar, Matunga, Sion and Kurla. Similarly, up slow trains starting from Ghatkopar between 10:19 am and 3:52 pm will be diverted to the fast line and will halt only at the same six stations.
On the Harbour Line between Kurla and Vashi, all local trains scheduled between 10:34 am and 3:36 pm from CSMT to Vashi, Belapur and Panvel, and between 10:17 am and 3:47 pm from Panvel, Belapur and Vashi to CSMT, will be cancelled. Special services will operate between CSMT and Kurla and between Panvel and Vashi, while passengers will be permitted to travel via the Thane–Vashi or Nerul route using the same ticket.
On Western Railway, a block will be carried out at Mumbai Central on Saturday night between 12:30 am and 4:00 am, though suburban services will not be affected. No daytime block is scheduled on Sunday, ensuring uninterrupted travel on that line.
Source: The Free PressJournal
