In its defense, CR authorities said that one of the biggest reason behind the delays is blocking of signal lights by miscreants.
Irked over punctuality of local trains had taken a hit for the last 15-20 days, 60 representatives from various passenger associations met CR authorities on Wednesday.
At the meeting, the passengers highlighted the issues faced by them on a daily basis. In its defense, CR authorities said that one of the biggest reason behind the delays is blocking of signal lights by miscreants.
"In the last one month, there have been at least 25 cases where black cloth or stones have been kept to block the signal lights. CR authorities informed us that such incidents occurred at Diva-Mumbra-Kalwa stretch," said Kailash Verma, a member of Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh.
Apart from this, long-distance trains delay local trains, especially at Kalyan-Kasara/Karjat stretch. The CR either have to halt suburban trains or long-distance trains on the loop line. On June 26, a local train was made to wait for three hours before Kalyan for the long distance trains to pass.
The CR authorities blame the 4-5 LC gates between Thane and Karjat-Kasara which cause delays on a daily basis. Whenever the LC gates remain open for 2-3 minutes during peak hours, trains come to a halt. There are times when motor vehicles remain in the middle of the rail tracks which leads to traffic jams.
Also, a series of failures —signal failures, OHE wires breaking, rail fractures and other issues — on CR main line is leading to delays and cancellations of local trains.
The passenger associations claim that the commuters boarding from the 19 railway stations falling on Kalyan-Karjat/Kasara belt are already agitated and frustrated with the condition of train services over the past few days now.
"However, we will not go on protest from July 1, as the CR authorities have assured removing speed restrictions and improve punctuality," said Nandkumar Deshmukh, president, Federation of Suburban Railway Passengers Association (FSRPA).
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Railways")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}