Passenger traffic up by 22% on WR,44% on CR in 12 yrs

While there has been 38 per cent increase in services on CR,WR has also bridged the demand-supply gap adding 32 per cent services.

During 2001-02,WR had 980 services,which increased to 1,290 during 2012-13. CR ran 1,160 services during 2001-02 and 1,596 during 2012-13.

The growth in services is not commensurate with that in the number of passengers on CR,but authorities said the figures should not to be seen in absolute terms.

Mukesh Nigam,divisional manager,said,“Central Railway is double the Western Railway size. With nearly 1,600 services a day,we have reached a saturation point. The dual traction system too is a big limitation.”

He said parallel mass transport systems such as monorail,metro and elevated rail corridors should have been in place by now to decrease dependency on the suburban railway system.

Nigam said massive growth in Thane and Kalyan had increased demand for locals.

With a four-minute service frequency on CR and three-minute on WR,he said the system was “full”.

“A visiting delegation from China was surprised to learn we run 1,600 services a day as compared to 200 in that country. They said our system was phenomenal.”

Sandeep Silas,divisional manager,Western Railway,said,“WR has bridged the demand-supply gap better than CR. There has been an average 2-3 per cent growth in passenger traffic every year. Despite increasing services,we have super dense crush load. Unless a commuter stands or sits comfortably in a train during peak hours,we cannot say we have done enough.”

Super dense crush load is when a nine-car rake has 4,500 passengers,instead of the mandated 1,700.

Silas said WR needed to complete a fifth line between Mahim and Santacruz and a sixth between Mumbai Central and Borivali to create space to run more trains.

priyal.dave@expressindia.com

Increase over the years

CR WR

Passenger 43.41 22.15

Rakes 27.96 26.56

Services 37.59 31.63

Figures in per cent