The government of Maharashtra on Monday informed the Bombay high court that it is considering a change in office timings in the city and suburbs to reduce peak hour crowds in suburban local trains. The lawyer for the government informed the division bench of Justice Naresh H. Patil and Justice Amjad A. Sayed that was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on several issues faced by commuters about the development and the court had also taken up the issue of local train passengers dying due to overcrowding in trains.
Advocate P. P. Kakade, on behalf of the government, told the court that the suggestions made were feasible and that the government was seriously considering the same.
It may be recalled that in the past the court had suggested the Maharashtra government to consider changing office, school and college timings to prevent overcrowding in suburban local trains. The court had also suggested that state government change its office hours and even working days to avoid overcrowding in the trains. “Why set timings of 10 am-5 pm Why the same time for all Is life important or working hours ” asked the bench.
Advocate Kakade said, “A change of half-an-hour in office timings is being considered. The principal secretaries of every department have been asked to look into the same and give their suggestions.”
On the issue of provision of basic facilities like clean toilets and drinking water, the court said if the railway authorities are not in a position to provide and maintain the facilities then they could outsource it.
“Let the BMC do it. Let them (BMC) take over the task of providing these facilities at railway platforms,” the court said. “We have time and again asked the Railways to do something, but till date nothing has been shown to us. Only discussions are done, no action. A commuter just wants clean toilets and drinking water,” the court said.
Apart from these issues, the matter of providing reservation of seats for senior citizens in local trains was also discussed during hearing in the past.
