Overcrowding In Sinhagad Express Forces Passengers To Travel Standing From Pune To Mumbai
Pune, 20th May,2022: The Sinhagad Express had the ICF (Integral Coach Factory) rake connected to it. But it was removed and the LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) rake was added. Its generator car reduced the number of passenger coaches resulting in five coaches less than before.
Therefore, Sinhagad Express has a daily waiting capacity of at least 150 to 200 passengers. Reduction in coaches has created problems for Pune citizens wanting to reach Mumbai in the morning. There used to be two coaches allotted for women passengers, but now there is only one coach. Most passengers leaving Pune complete the journey standing till Mumbai since they do not get a reserved seat due to lack of coaches.
Sinhagad Express is preferred by many citizens to reach Mumbai faster from Pune. It departs from Pune railway station at 6.05 am and reaches Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai at 9.55 am with halts at Shivajinagar, Khadki, Pimpri, Chinchwad, Lonavala, Karjat, Kalyan and Dadar. The Sinhagad Express had 19 coaches, of which, 16 for passengers. Now, it has two generator car compartments resulting in 14 coaches. The number of passengers has increased for the Sinhagad Express and the number of coaches has decreased. Hence, the waiting list for a reserved seat has increased. Hence, the passengers have demanded the railway administration to increase the number of coaches in the Sinhagad Express.
About 1000 to 1200 passengers use the Sinhagad Express daily to travel from Pune to Mumbai. The number of women passengers is also high. Earlier, two coaches were reserved for women and now there is only one coach. Therefore, women passengers who do not get a seat in the coach travel in other mixed coaches. Also, there are about 200 to 300 passengers waiting for a seat every day, so it is necessary to increase the number of coaches.
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Iqbal Mulani, President, Pimpri Chinchwad Pravasi Sangh said, “Railways changed the rake of Sinhagad Express in the begining of Covid-19 pandemic. Passenger’s response was low at the time, but the situation isn’t the same now. The number of waiting list for the Sinhagad Express is increasing now as there are fewer coaches and more passengers.”
