Mumbai Local Train Services: Deaths, Delays, And Overcrowding—A Growing Crisis For Commuters

In April 2024, Avadhesh Rajesh Dubey, a 25-year-old student at IIT Patna, tragically fell off a crowded Mumbai local train during rush hour on the Central Railway, according to a Midday report. Avadhesh, who was also pursuing an MBA, lost his life after the incident on the Kalwa-to-Dombivli stretch, which has become one of the most hazardous routes. His family has alleged that overcrowded trains, door-blocking, delays, and the lack of timely medical attention contributed to his death.

Avadhesh's father, Rajesh Dubey, along with his family, continues to demand justice and has called for stricter safety measures on Mumbai's overcrowded local train network. Despite their pleas, little has changed, and the daily rush-hour struggle persists.

Sadly, Avadhesh is not an isolated case. On average, seven to eight deaths occur daily on Mumbai's suburban railway due to overcrowding, accidents, and other causes. In 2024 alone, 2468 people lost their lives on the tracks. Over the past 20 years, more than 50,000 fatalities have been recorded, the report added.

The death toll is significant on both Western and Central Railways. Between 2005 and July 2024, Western Railway reported 22,481 deaths and 26,572 injuries, while Central Railway recorded 29,321 fatalities between 2009 and June 2024. The top railway police jurisdictions with the highest fatalities in the past two years include Kalyan, Thane, Vasai, and Borivli.

The suburban railway system is operating at full capacity, with no room to increase services. There are currently 1394 suburban services on Western Railway, carrying 35 lakh passengers daily, and 1810 services on Central Railway, serving 40 lakh passengers. In total, 3204 suburban services carry 75 lakh passengers each day.

As per the same report, to tackle this growing crisis, in October 2023, Central Railway introduced flexible working hours for its employees and urged over 350 organisations to implement staggered office timings. Despite adding 150 additional suburban services over the past seven years, there is no space to expand further. The increasing number of daily commuters has made the concept of rush hour inevitable.

The main causes of fatalities on Mumbai's suburban trains are line-crossing and falling from trains. In 2023, Thane jurisdiction recorded the highest number of deaths due to line-crossing (179), followed by Borivli (154). In 2024, Thane continued to top the list with 151 deaths, with Borivli at 137.

Falling from trains remains another leading cause of fatalities. Kalyan reported the most deaths due to falls in 2023 (114), with Vasai at 45. In 2024, Kalyan again recorded the highest number of fall-related deaths (116), while Vasai remained the same with 45.

As Mumbai's local trains continue to operate under severe strain, the safety concerns remain urgent. Despite efforts to manage overcrowding, the daily battle for space, safety, and timely medical response continues to claim lives.