Get ready for CR’s mega blocks on June 25, July 2

Mumbai: Lakhs of commuters on Central Railway (CR) will be inconvenienced over the next two Sundays because of a massive mega-block, which will lead to a minimum of 120 services being cancelled. Trains from Badlapur to Kalyan will be shut for three hours while those between Kalyan and Karjat will be shut for four-and-a-half hours on June 25 as well as July 2.

The entire block will begin on the morning of June 25 from 9.15 am and continue upto 3.15 pm.

The railways will use the block to improve the over-all services that commuters face due to overcrowding in trains and platforms. As a result of the block, commuters from Karjat will only be able to travel upto Kalyan from 9.15 am to 12.15 pm, when the lines will be opened towards CST. Similarly, commuters from the Kasara end would also be able to travel up to Kalyan only between 9.30 am to 2pm.

According to officials, this situation will continue for another 45 minutes even after the blocks are lifted, as it will take that long for the connection to be re-established between Kalyan and Thane. “It will takes us another 45 minutes to re-establish the connection between Thane and Kalyan and the trains will be parked at the closest sidings, ready to be sent on the line.”  

CR has seen similar blocks but officials said that the entire southeast suburb would be completely disconnected from the city.

On July 2, the same block will take place on the Karjat Kalyan section to verify the girder strength among other issues.  

The good news here is that trains on the slow line between CST and Dombivli will be running, hence commuters from Vangani or Badlapur will have to get off at Kalyan and make their way to Dombivli in order to reach CST or even Kurla or Dadar, for that matter.

CR, chief public relations officer Sunil Udasi said, “The work being undertaken is important and as a result the six-hour block has been scheduled this Sunday.”

In a last minute call, the Harbour line block between Panvel and CST scheduled for this Sunday, has been cancelled so that commuters from the mainline can use the Harbour line if needed.

Security arrangement

• The RPF will deploy at least 60 people in case commuters resort to violence.
• The RPF personnel will be deployed at all important stations along the Kasara/Karjat-Kalyan section as well Dombivli on the CR line, which will be the last station for commuters traveling from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST).
• The CR is expecting large number of passenger flow to the station from the Thane and the Kalyan end.

Trouble spots

Thakurli: The LC gate at Thakurli is one of the causes behind the loss of punctuality. The gate opens up 13 times from 9 am to 10pm. The ROB is being constructed — four girders will be launched.
Ambernath: Tracks near Ambernath station had sunk after rains eroded the soil away. A special cushion-box will be embedded under the tracks, where fresh ballast is laid under the track.