Railway passenger associations in Mumbai have urged Indian Railways to further reduce fares for AC local trains, arguing that affordable pricing would encourage more commuters to shift from private vehicles to public transport. The groups plan to submit a formal memorandum to the Ministry of Railways along with proposals related to ridership and cost benefits in the coming weeks.
The demand follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal encouraging citizens to reduce fuel consumption by using public transport, electric buses, and carpooling to ease congestion and lower pollution levels.
Commuter groups believe AC local trains can play a larger role in Mumbai’s public transport ecosystem if ticket prices are reduced further. However, some passenger representatives also cautioned that additional AC train services should be introduced before any fare cuts to prevent overcrowding.
Siddhesh Desai, vice-president of Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh, said, “AC locals offer better comfort and frequency, but their higher season ticket fares continue to push many middle-income commuters back to cars and bikes. The chief minister had already promised it. Now is the time. If AC local fares are brought closer to the non AC first class experience, it will become a realistic daily option for lakhs of people”.
Passenger associations pointed to the 2022 reduction in single-journey AC local fares, when ticket prices on major routes were cut by nearly 50 per cent, leading to improved ridership. However, season passes for AC locals continue to remain expensive as the service is still treated as a premium offering.
According to railway data, AC local ridership on Mumbai’s suburban network has grown sharply after the pandemic, increasing from nearly 6,000 passengers in 2021-22 to around 1.49 lakh passengers in 2025-26.
Rajiv Singal, member of Western Railway Mumbai’s Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee, said, “The Railways should bring it down so that it is only 20 per cent higher than regular trains. That is when the passengers will abandon their vehicles and come to the railways”.
Source: Mid-day
