Mini train, mega woes at Matheran

NOVEMBER 15: As tourism claws is way even deeper into Matheran, locals at the hill station find that to subsist at a height of 2,600 feet...

NOVEMBER 15: As tourism claws is way even deeper into Matheran, locals at the hill station find that to subsist at a height of 2,600 feet above level is becoming increasingly asphixiating. The latest blow to the 6,000-strong indigineous population is the Central Railway8217;s decision to raise the number of reserved seats on Matherasn8217;s lifeline year-round the mini-train that chugs up the incline from Neral to Matheran thrice a day to bring more tourists to the picturesque hill station. However, locals point out, this will severely restrict their own travel apart from forcing them to shell out more for the 22-km journey.

Following the November 1 decision to increase the number of seats in the reserved quota, from 30 to 120, fares have gone up to Rs 39 from the earlier Rs 24. But apart from the expense, the increase in the reserved quota also means restricted travel for the locals. Trips have to be made at short notice to, say, haul in supplies among other reasons. But with the reserved quota leaving a pitiful30 seats in the open quota, emergency trips and those which are made at short notice may not be possible.

Moreover, heritage rules ban vehicles from entering the hill station, which is why motorists have to halt at Dasturi on the outskirts of Matheran. Being a good 3 km from the city, few people use the road for regular travel. This makes the rail link, which was opened in 1907, vital.

Rues Sushil Shinde, owner of an artefact shop at Matheran, 8220;Earlier, we could enter the Matheran-bound train without difficulty. Now, we have to pay Rs 15 extra and reserve tickets. On a hill-station, where travel is haphazard, we sometimes have to make trips at short notice. How will this be possible now?8221;

According to a hotelier, traders and businessman like him are completely dependent on the mini-rail to transport their goods and provisions from Neral and Karjat. Now, they may be forced to look to unscrupulous taxi operators who are sure to bleed them dry. Adds A Ranjane, who owns a horse carriage which is a commonfixture at the tiny hill station: 8220;I have never reserved a ticket for a journey on the train. This is new for me.8221;

With more than 2,000 tourists visiting Matheran during the holiday season and an estimated five lakh per year, visitors will naturally have a field day. Besides, more tourists also means increased revenue for the state government.

Rameshwar Rao, assistant commercial manager with the Central Railway headquarters in Mumbai told Express Newsline that the reserved quota has been increased to fetch additional revenue. Though a decision to this effect was taken earlier, it was implemented only from November 1. Meanwhile, the locals told Express Newsline that the functioning of the mini-train had improved considerably this year, keeping them from the clutches of taxi operators. They allege that taxi operators would 8220;ensure8221; that the rail engine developed frequent snags so that tourists and others would be forced to shell out the Rs 45 they charge per head for the 9-km road trip from Neral toMatheran. By cramming more than the maximum permissible four passengers into their vehicles, operators used to make a killing.

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Besides, more than 75 per cent of the work on laying new sleepers is complete, which has made rail travel that much easier. The new, indigenous locomotive procured from a Bangalore firm has also helped the mini-train to run more efficiently.