A morning disruption on Mumbai Metro’s Blue Line (Line 1) triggered stampede-like scenes, particularly at Ghatkopar station, reigniting the long-pending demand to add two more coaches to existing trains.
The Blue Line — Mumbai Metro One — was originally designed to run six-car trains. According to experts, the upgrade shouldn’t pose major hurdles, as the platforms and supporting infrastructure are already equipped for longer trains. While each four-car rake currently accommodates around 1178 passengers, converting them to six-coach trains would boost capacity to 1792. The transition, if not implemented at once, can be rolled out in phases.
mid-day had first highlighted the issue in 2018. “After seven decades, Mumbai got a Metro — but the platforms and entry gates are too small to handle peak-hour crowds. Our planners lack even a Std V student’s IQ,” commuter Mihir Jha remarked. Jainam Shah, another commuter, described the situation starkly: “It felt like a stampede on the Ghatkopar FOB.”
Overcrowded foot overbridge in Ghatkopar. Pic/X/ @143Kapoor
Recounting a harrowing experience, Monika Dangar, a commuter stuck on the train, said, “I was inside the train and intended to alight at Ghatkopar. But due to the extreme overcrowding and aggressive behaviour of people trying to board, I couldn’t get off. Several others faced the same. I request urgent action: increase staff and security on platforms during peak hours, implement crowd-control mechanisms, make regular announcements urging people to let others alight first, and introduce penalties for unruly behaviour.”
Dhaval Shah from the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens’ Association (LOCA) added, “All this chaos because of one train being withdrawn. We need 6-coach rakes and at least triple the number of trains currently running. Authorities must act before lives are lost.”
What happened?
Train services on Line 1 were slightly delayed in the morning after a train failed to achieve its target speed and was withdrawn from service. Services were later restored and normalised.
Upgrade plan in motion
Metro officials confirmed there’s a plan to convert the current four-coach rakes on Line 1 to six-coach ones to address crowding concerns.
Legal tussles behind the scenes
Mumbai Metro Line 1 (Versova–Andheri–Ghatkopar) is operated by Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) — a joint venture between Reliance Infrastructure (74 per cent) and MMRDA (26 per cent).
In August 2023, a three-member arbitral tribunal awarded Rs 992 crore to MMOPL over cost escalations and contractual disputes. With interest, the amount now stands at Rs 1169 crore. MMRDA challenged the award under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, but the Bombay High Court declined to stay it unconditionally.
In addition, two other disputes are ongoing: a R100 crore claim by MMRDA related to initial fare fixation, and a case concerning fare increases recommended by the fare fixation committee.
