CR’s timings derail

MUMBAI, December 7: Even as the Central Railway (CR) applies the latest technology to maintain a smooth service, regular mishaps and techni...

MUMBAI, December 7: Even as the Central Railway (CR) applies the latest technology to maintain a smooth service, regular mishaps and technical snags have pushed its punctuality rate to an all time low of 60 per cent, claimed sources.

Trains from far off suburbs like Karjat, Kasara and Kalyan, among others, have registered delays on an average of 20 minutes everyday in the last two months.

Also, the services from Navi Mumbai on the harbour line continue to be delayed by over 15 minutes, because trains are operated at only 20 kmph even as the book speed is 50 kmph.

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Officials however refute the claim by asserting that the punctuality swings between 80 and 85 per cent given various constraints that the CR has to tide over.

The CR has a set headway time at four minutes. However, trains have been running late by at least 20-25 minutes – extended up to 45 minutes during the morning and evening peak hours in the last two months alone. This has led to only 40 per cent of the services running on time without any delays.A highly placed source in the CR admitted that soft sub-soil, ever-growing slums and depleting finances have marred the efficiency of the conventional suburban system in the last two decades.

The source said, “We continue to use the railway system devised by the British on the network. For developmental work, we need money, and with the budgetary grant reduced every year, development and upto-the-mark maintenance is affected.”

Despite employing the latest equipment to maintain the suburban section, the services have been disrupted on at least ten occasions in the last two months – not considering the perennial delays due to late running of outstation trains in the section.

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This has given a severe blow to the Central Railway’s image as the "pioneering railway system in India" , the official source further said.Besides, privatisation of maintenance works has led to a decline in its quality standards adding to the woes of the railways which acts as a supervisory body on private contractors. “Even after strict supervision of the work done by private contractors, there have been instances where mishaps have taken place few hours after the work was done,” the source informed.

When queried about the reasons behind the series of disruptions, Chief Public Relations Officer Mukul Marwah blamed the speed restrictions imposed by the Commissioner of Railway Safety in order to protect the slum-dwellers from being run over by speeding trains. Also, the motormen who are not able to maintain the book speed of 65 kmph due to the restrictions, play it safe and operate trains at lower speeds, he added.

Commenting on the drop in the punctuality rate, Marwah said it ranges between 80 and 85 per cent.