Train tragedy: Travel on Thane-Karjat & Thane-Kasara routes is a crush with 11 lakh people daily; Diva-Mumbra stretch a death trap
MUMBAI: Of the 26 lakh passengers who travel daily on the Central Railway (CR) Main line, nearly 11 lakh travel between Thane and Karjat or Kasara, highlighting the mounting burden on the suburban stretch.
Kaustubh Shinde, an HR professional, said the chaos during rush hour was unbelievable on the CR. "I often can't get off at Mulund as bulky commuters with large backpacks block the exit. Not even a mouse could squeeze through. It's frustrating," he said.
The CR has ramped up daily services to 894 from 803 in 2014. Nearly 70% of these—182 in the morning and 188 in the evening—run during peak hours. The frequency up to Kalyan has been increased to a train every three minutes.
Poll
Do you think staggered work timings could help reduce overcrowding in Mumbai trains?
Yes, definitely
No, it won't help
Transport experts say this may not be enough. Ashok Datar of the Mumbai Mobility Forum said the govt must enforce staggered work timings across private and public sectors to ease the pressure.
"Even if 40% of office-goers travel at staggered hours, it can bring visible relief. We can consider shifts like 8.30 am–3.30 pm and 11.30 am–7.30 pm, with only 20% employees on the traditional general shift," he said, adding that essential services like hospitals and police should be exempt from this arrangement.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
เทรดทองCFDs กับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้ | เรียนรู้เพิ่มเติม
IC Markets
สมัคร
Undo
Transport expert Vivek Pai said the train incident on Monday was a reminder that urgent structural reforms were needed. "The Thane-Kalyan stretch has the highest commuter density, and unless we address it with more tracks, cheaper AC train options and better frequency, such incidents will keep repeating. Mixed land use and staggered office hours are a necessity, not a luxury," Pai said.
Rail Yatri Parishad chairman Subhash Gupta blamed the overcrowding on the gradual phasing out of non-AC trains.
"AC locals during peak hours end up increasing crowd build-up for the next non-AC train," he said. "People risk their lives, hanging by the doors. Most commuters from distant suburbs earn modest salaries. A Rs 5,000, the AC season pass is unaffordable for many. With Metro connectivity improving and those systems already air-conditioned, there is no rush to convert all locals into AC ones."
Gupta dismissed the idea of automatic door closures on ordinary locals. "It's been discussed for years but isn't practical. Doors take time to open and close and will delay overall services," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
42 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Volunteers clear 1,750 kg of plastic waste from Velliangiri Hill in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: Days after the trekking period ended, volunteers from different parts of the state joined hands to carry out a cleanliness drive at Velliangiri Hill in Boluvampatti Forest Range in Coimbatore. As many as 35 volunteers, in the age group of 18-55, came for the cleanliness drive and collected over 1,750 kg of plastic waste including water bottles and food wrappers on June 8. The forest department had granted permission to devotees to trek on the hill as the Lord Velliangiri Aandavar Temple is situated on the seventh hill. While the temple is under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department, the forest department permits treks from February to May. During the trekking period between February 1 and May 25, over 2.5 lakh devotees are estimated to have trekked the hills. This huge footfall brought with it the menace of plastic waste, despite the forest department's initiatives to curb plastic in the area. B Hari Kumar, a fitness coach who trekked the hill over 102 days, called on volunteers through his social media page to partake in the cleanliness drive. Volunteers from across the state participated in the drive on Sunday and collected the plastic waste from the foothills to the third hill, a 3 km stretch. Hari Kumar told TNIE, "To prevent plastic dumping on the hill, the forest department affixes stickers on plastic bottles carried by those who come for trekking and collect Rs 20 per bottle. The devotees can collect Rs 20 after returning the empty plastic bottle. However, some of them throw the bottles during the trek in the reserve forest area. To clean up the plastic bottles and plastic covers, I sought the forest department's permission. They have given three Sundays for the work. On June 8, the first Sunday, we collected 1,750 kg of plastic waste with the support of the forest guards." He said as many as 18 out of 35 volunteers came from Chennai, Salem, Tirunelveli and other districts. "They have come forward for the social cause and dedicated a day for the work. We started work at 7.45 am and completed by 4 pm. We handed over the segregated waste to the Coimbatore city corporation. Due to the elevation and distance, we have invited young volunteers for the next two Sundays."
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Earning, divorced wife not to pay for child's maintenance; husband has to bear entire expense, rules Delhi High court
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills How did this case start? July 7, 2014: A Delhi based person married a lady who is employed as a stenographer in court. The marriage between them happened following all Hindu rites and ceremonies. From this marriage two children, a son and a daughter, were born in 2015 and 2019 respectively. A Delhi based person married a lady who is employed as a stenographer in court. The marriage between them happened following all Hindu rites and ceremonies. From this marriage two children, a son and a daughter, were born in 2015 and 2019 respectively. June 2021: She left her husband and has been living separately since then. She left her husband and has been living separately since then. April 2022: She filed a complaint under Section 12 and Section 23 of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 against her husband and his family members. Section 23 is used when a spouse who is not divorced yet and seeks payment of interim maintenance money. She filed a complaint under Section 12 and Section 23 of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 against her husband and his family members. Section 23 is used when a spouse who is not divorced yet and seeks payment of interim maintenance money. August 17, 2023: The lower court refused to grant any maintenance money to the wife but ordered the husband to pay Rs 50,000 per month in favour of both their children's maintenance. Delhi High Court refers to this Supreme Court judgement which said usually fathers have to bear expenses of children unless the mother is earning sufficiently The Supreme Court has held that monetary relief under Section 20(2) of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, granted in favour of the aggrieved woman or the children, must be adequate, fair and reasonable. It was also held that the living expenses of a child must include not just food, clothing, residence, medical and educational costs, but also reasonable expenses for extra-curricular or coaching classes; and that ordinarily, the father should bear the educational expenses of the children, unless the mother is earning sufficiently, in which case the costs may be shared proportionately. In the present case, a significant aspect that merits attention is that the respondent (Wife), who is admittedly employed in the District Court—a role that demands punctuality, mental acuity, and undivided focus—has been consistently balancing her professional responsibilities with the demands of her personal life. While it was contended by her counsel that she faces multifaceted challenges as a "single parent," this Court is of the view that such terminology requires a nuanced understanding. A custodial parent, though performing parental responsibilities independently, does not live a solitary existence; rather, he or she forms a familial unit with the children in their care. The presence of children, and the responsibilities that accompany their upbringing, confer upon such an individual the character of a family, not of a person leading a singular or isolated life The maintenance is not meant to belittle the non-custodial parent, nor is it a measure of punishment. Similarly, the custodial parent should not be viewed as someone seeking charity or alms. Maintenance is not a favour; it is a recognition of shared parental responsibility, and of the child's right to be supported. This Court is equally cognizant of the fact that maintenance must not result in unfair financial burden on the father, especially when the wife is earning and has been awarded no separate maintenance for herself. Delhi High Court answers why wife is not required to pay equal share of maintenance for their children To deal with the argument that the respondent (wife) herein is working and is thus financially and otherwise capable and empowered to not only take care of the children and her career but also, therefore, not seek maintenance, this Court is of the view that even in cases where a father has custody of young and minor children, the challenges he faces are, in essence, not dissimilar to those encountered by a mother in a comparable situation. While societal perception may traditionally lean towards the belief that a father's role is rendered more arduous due to professional commitments and prevailing gender expectations, the same logic must equally apply to working mothers, who often navigate identical—if not heightened— burdens. In the present case, what stands out is that the respondent – a woman employed in a demanding position that requires sustained concentration, discipline, and extended working hours—is not seeking maintenance for herself but solely for the children born out of the wedlock. This, despite the fact that the petitioner earns nearly twice her income. The respondent continues to shoulder the primary responsibility for the children's upbringing while simultaneously discharging her professional duties with diligence. The Courts below have rightly taken into consideration the fact that both minor children are studying in a School. It has also been noted that the elder child was enrolled in the same school even during the time when the parties resided together, and thus, the standard of schooling and related expenditure had already been a part of the household's financial planning. The continuation of the same educational institution ensures stability for the children and aligns with the standard of living they were accustomed to while living with both the parents. In cases such as the present one, where the mother is both the primary caregiver and a working woman managing the entirety of the children's daily lives, her non-financial contributions must be duly acknowledged, and a mechanical 50:50 sharing of financial liability cannot be imposed. It is also an admitted fact that the wife is earning a net monthly income of approximately Rs 75,000 to Rs 80,000. On the other hand, the husband's monthly income has been assessed at around Rs 1,75,000. In such circumstances, it would be just and equitable that the financial responsibility towards the upbringing of the minor children is shared more by the father of the children. The Delhi High Court on May 13, 2025, rejected a husband's divorce maintenance plea for making his divorced wife liable for sharing equal financial responsibility (50:50) for upkeep and education of their two minor children. The high court said that equal financial responsibility is not about gender, but rather of the parent who has custody which is the wife in this high court said she (wife) needs to do two jobs, one for the office and another after office for upkeep of the child and this contribution of hers cannot be quantified in monetary terms. To quote the High Court in exact terms, the court said, 'These psychological and emotional burdens cannot be calculated or addressed through a mere mathematical formula.'The husband on the other hand claimed that he earns just enough to barely sustain himself, but this disproportionate child maintenance amount ordered by the court is a burden for him. Though the wife had also filed a maintenance plea however, the court rejected her plea but upheld the child maintenance plea. The maintenance amount in this case is payable by the husband to the wife since she has custody of Delhi High Court said that this case is, in many ways, an acknowledgment – if not a tribute – to all working custodial parents, irrespective of gender, who strive each day to maintain equilibrium between their obligations as caregivers and professionals. The High Court said that even in cases where a father has custody of young and minor children, the challenges he faces are, in essence, not dissimilar to those encountered by a mother in a comparable rejecting the husband's plea, the High Could acknowledged that while societal perception may traditionally lean towards the belief that a father's role is rendered more difficult due to professional commitments and prevailing gender expectations, the same logic must equally apply to working mothers, who often navigate identical—if not heightened— below to learn more about the legal arguments in this case and what divorced fathers should to the judgement of the Delhi High Court dated May 13, 2025, here are the details:The Delhi High Court said:The above precedent was applied by Delhi High Court in this case and the court said:The Delhi High Court said:Thus the Delhi High Court rejected the husband's plea for making the wife liable to pay equal Agrawal, Advocate, Delhi High Court says: 'The court's paramount focus is the child's welfare, ensuring a standard of living and dignity comparable to what they would have enjoyed with both parents, extending beyond mere sustenance to include their self-esteem, education continuity, lifestyle, and opportunities. The invaluable non-monetary contributions of a custodial parent, particularly a working mother, such as emotional support, homework supervision, and daily care, are explicitly recognized as a full-time responsibility not measurable monetarily, thus precluding a mechanical 50:50 sharing of financial liability. Maintenance is not a punishment or charity, but a recognition of shared parental responsibility and the child's inherent right to support.'
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
What makes certain zodiac signs introverted and extroverted
Each zodiac sign carries specific traits influenced by its element (fire, earth, air, water), ruling planet, and mode (cardinal, fixed, mutable). These traits help shape whether a sign is more introverted or extroverted. Introvert signs usually prefer solitude, deep thinking, and emotional depth, while extrovert signs are social, expressive, and outgoing. Introverted Signs Introverted signs are often calm, reflective, and emotionally private. These signs include Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) are naturally emotional and sensitive. They feel things deeply and may need alone time to recharge and reflect. Earth signs like Virgo and Capricorn are practical and serious. They prefer meaningful conversations over small talk and may keep their thoughts to themselves. These signs often think before speaking and are more comfortable in quiet environments. Extroverted Signs Extroverted signs are energetic, talkative, and enjoy social settings. These include Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) are bold, confident, and thrive on attention and excitement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are curious, communicative, and enjoy exchanging ideas with others. These signs are usually quick to speak, open to new people, and enjoy being part of group activities. Middle Ground Some signs may show both introverted and extroverted traits depending on their mood or situation. For example, Taurus can be social with close friends but values peace and personal space. Similarly, Aquarius enjoys company but often prefers intellectual connections over emotional ones. A sign's introverted or extroverted nature is shaped by its elemental group and basic personality traits. Understanding this helps explain how different signs handle social energy, relationships, and personal space Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
