Mumbai Metro Line 1, operating on the Versova–Ghatkopar corridor, experienced service disruptions on Thursday after scheduled track maintenance work led to reduced train speeds and intermittent delays. The slowdown during peak commuting hours resulted in significant overcrowding at multiple stations, particularly in the morning rush.
Commuters reported packed platforms and uncomfortable travel conditions as trains ran slower than usual. The impact was most strongly felt between Versova and Ghatkopar, where passenger volume is typically at its highest during office hours. Many travellers described chaotic scenes on platforms, with limited space and growing queues as trains arrived with reduced frequency and capacity constraints became more visible.
“The crowd on the platform was stretched to the extreme in the morning at around 9 am, and a stampede was waiting to happen,” said commuter Devvrat Mainhallikar, who travels from the Central Railway to DN Nagar. “Due to the heat and crowd, it felt like I couldn’t breathe. There were hardly any metro staff and no clear instructions, and people kept adding onto the platform through the staircase. So I switched with a colleague onto the BEST bus, reaching the office an hour late.”
With the metro operating under speed restrictions, several commuters opted for alternative modes of transport, though even that proved challenging. Availability of auto-rickshaws was reportedly low amid ongoing issues related to Marathi language compliance involving drivers, further complicating last-mile connectivity.
Passengers also raised broader concerns about the line’s long-term capacity. Despite being one of Mumbai’s busiest metro corridors, Line 1 continues to operate with four-coach trains, even as demand for six-coach upgrades has persisted for years. The line is managed under a public-private partnership by Reliance Infrastructure.
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad commented on the situation, stating, “This is a situation that requires urgent intervention. The city’s first metro, the Versova Ghatkopar line is facing this situation every other day, even if today the situation is due to maintenance work. Citizens are right in asking what happened to the proposal of increasing the rakes of this metro?”
Responding to the disruption, Metro 1 officials said, “As part of our proactive maintenance initiative to enhance track quality and commuter safety, Mumbai Metro One, in association with Bangalore Metro, has undertaken rail grinding operations. Following this activity, temporary speed restrictions have been implemented as a standard safety protocol. As a result, minor service delays are being experienced. These precautionary measures are essential to ensure the highest standards of safety for our commuters.”
Source: The Indian Express
