Why Is Marathi Actress Akshata Apte Furious About Mumbai's AC Local Trains? Find Out Here

Marathi actress Akshata Apte, known for her roles in "Guni Jodi" and "Dagdi Chawl 2", has recently voiced her dissatisfaction with the Central Railways over the punctuality of air-conditioned (AC) local trains on the Central Line in Mumbai.

About The Central Line

As the name suggests, the Mumbai Central Line runs down the centre of the city and its suburbs. The main route on this line is a Y-shaped line starting from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and bifurcating at Kalyan to terminate at Kasara and Khopoli. From Diva, train lines extend in both directions to Vasai Road and Panvel. Further south, a line also runs outwards from Thane towards Uran City.

There are a total of 62 stations on this line. Trains running on this route start at 04:00 AM and a train starts from the terminal stations every few minutes. Trains also start from other major stations along the Central Line Mumbai, like Dadar and Kalyan.

There are 2 types of trains, slow and fast trains. This is not a reference to the train's speed but rather the stations it stops at. A slow train stops at all stations on a route, while a fast train will halt only at the major stations. A fast train from CSMT to Kalyan makes the journey in about 1 hour and 12 minutes, while a slow train covers the same distance in 1 hour and 27 minutes.

Akshata Apte On Mumbai's AC Local Trains

In a candid Instagram post, Akshata expressed her frustration, calling for immediate improvements. She stressed the need for AC local trains to arrive on time and suggested a practical solution for passengers inconvenienced by delays. She proposed that if no AC tickets are available after boarding, the Ticket Collector should upgrade first-class tickets without imposing a fine. She pointed out that when AC local trains are delayed, passengers like her are forced to take non-AC local trains, leading to wasted time and money.

She said, "On the Central Railway line, AC trains should either arrive on time or the TC should upgrade the existing regular or first-class ticket without any fine if no ticket is available after boarding the train. When preparing to catch an AC train, if the AC ticket is bought but the train doesn't arrive on time, the waiting time is wasted, and eventually, one has to take a regular train, wasting the money spent on the AC ticket. Often, thinking that the AC train must have already departed, passengers buy a regular or first-class ticket, only to find that the delayed AC train arrives just then."

Akshata, who commutes by train to avoid traffic and save time, highlighted that the frequent delays of AC local trains in Mumbai are causing significant inconvenience. She questioned the logic of continuing to invest in AC local trains if they do not function reliably. "In a rush, there isn't enough time to go to the ticket window and buy a ticket, and not every station has an ATVM machine. In such situations, if you board the train, the TC will impose a fine even if there is only a difference of ₹15. This means you end up paying the fine even when it's not your fault. This confusion has happened to me many times. I've even paid the fine while holding a first-class ticket, and once, when I saw an AC train unexpectedly on the indicator, I ran up from platform 8 at Dadar to the main window to buy a ticket, only to find the train had already left by the time I returned. In both cases, the AC train was severely delayed, and I was in a hurry to reach somewhere. The money was wasted in both scenarios. So, whose fault is this?" Akshata has questioned.

She further remarked, "AC trains have been started to reduce traffic congestion, save travel time, and provide a slightly more comfortable journey, right? But if these rare trains come at such unreliable times after honestly spending so much on tickets, how does that work? In fact, they should be top priority, right? What do you think? And how does M-indicator also fail at such times? I don't understand!"

In her caption, Akshata encouraged her followers to share their experiences, hoping to incite a change. "Received many replies on this story I'd put up some time ago. Now COMMENT and SHARE if you know this struggle. Let's try to make a change," she wrote.

Demand For AC Local Trains In Mumbai

This outcry comes amidst growing demands for more AC local trains in Mumbai to combat the oppressive heat. Mumbai is in dire need of more AC local trains. However, the railway ministry has been slow to respond, delaying the provision of these essential services. Senior railway officials disclosed to the Hindustan Times that despite the pressing demand, no new AC local trains are currently being produced at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai.

During a monsoon review meeting on June 28, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inquired about the demand for AC locals in Mumbai from Western Railway (WR) and Central Railway (CR) officials. He also questioned whether the reduction in single-journey ticket fares had led to increased ridership.

Officials confirmed the high demand for AC local trains, especially following the May 2022 fare reduction. A WR official stated, "We informed him about the need for more AC local trains, as the demand for these has been exceptionally good. We do not know the reason behind the delay in manufacturing and supplying new AC local trains. We were expecting one by March-April this year, which has not happened yet."

As per the Hindustan Times report, the daily ridership for AC locals in 2024-25 is approximately 1,27,388 commuters from 96 services on the Churchgate-Virar route. WR operates 96 services with seven AC rakes, while CR runs 66 services with six AC rakes.

Challenges And Criticisms

The delay in adding new AC local trains coincides with the indefinite suspension of plans to procure 238 AC local trains under Phases 3 and 3A of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). This decision, influenced by opposition leaders, stems from concerns that replacing non-AC trains with AC ones might inconvenience many commuters who cannot afford AC fares.

Madhu Kotian, president of the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh, criticised the railways for their inconsistent efforts in new ventures, including AC locals. He urged the railways to be proactive in expanding the AC train fleet, given the rising passenger demand. "This is the issue with AC locals as well," he said. "Now that there is a continuously rising demand from passengers, the railways should be proactive in adding a substantial number to its fleet."