Citizens are gearing up for the 18-hour block scheduled this weekend due to the planned demolition of the 136-year-old Hancock Bridge, with the BEST running 12 services between CST and Byculla during this time.
Mumbaikars who wanted to make a trip to the suburbs to the town from Central suburbs said they would get down at any of the stations between Dadar and Byculla and make their way to Byculla and CST by a taxi. Celine Pearl (55) who travels each Sunday to meet her family from Ambernath said that she and her family was thinking of catching taxi or a bus. “I usually leave on Sunday morning to meet my mother and brother living at Byculla and we make a day of it since we barely get any time to meet them and my mother has been ill for the past few years. Mostly my husband and kids will take a taxi,” she said.
The block has resulted in cancellations of 150 suburban services on Central Railway (CR) on mainline and 42 long distance trains on the mainline, while the Harbour line will run an extra of 101 services to compensate for the cancelled services. Commuters on the mainline can switch from Kurla on to the Harbour to make their way to CST but CR officials have said that people should travel only if required. “It would be best if Mumbaikars avoid travel on Sunday since trains would be overcrowded specially if they are to travel with family and children,” a CR official said.
Mega-block will not be taken on January 17 as Mumbai Marathon has been scheduled on the same day and people from different suburban areas are expected to take part in it.
