Smooth Travel for Ganesh Devotees: More Metro Services, No Mega Blocks

Mumbai, August 21: With large crowds expected across Mumbai and its suburbs during Ganeshotsav, citizens have urged authorities to increase Mumbai Metro services and avoid mega blocks on suburban railway routes. To ensure safe, smooth and hassle-free travel for devotees, directions have been issued to keep Metro services operational until late at night and, wherever necessary, extend them until midnight. Cabinet Minister Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha has also directed that regular mega blocks and night blocks on the Central Railway’s Main, Harbour and Trans-Harbour lines should not be undertaken during Ganeshotsav.

A large number of citizens use Metro and suburban trains to visit various Ganesh mandals across Mumbai and its suburbs during Ganeshotsav. Accordingly, instructions have been issued to reduce the headway between Metro services during peak hours and operate additional services. The last Metro service should also be extended to a later time, with special services made available for devotees returning after Ganesh darshan.

Suburban railway services are expected to face significant pressure during Ganeshotsav. With heavy crowds likely at railway stations throughout the day and night, Minister Lodha has directed that regular mega blocks and night blocks on the Central Railway’s Main, Harbour and Trans-Harbour lines should not be undertaken from the beginning of Ganeshotsav until Anant Chaturdashi.

Additional suburban special train services should be operated during peak hours and at night for devotees returning after Ganesh darshan. Additional Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and Maharashtra Security Guards should also be deployed at major railway stations to ensure passenger safety and effective crowd management, the minister directed.

To ensure that devotees do not face difficulties while purchasing tickets, all Metro ticket counters, Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), digital ticketing and QR ticketing systems should remain fully operational until the last Metro service. Lifts, escalators, drinking water facilities, public toilets and first-aid centres at Metro stations should also remain available for passengers as long as services are operational.

Additional security personnel and crowd management staff should be deployed at major and crowded Metro stations. Information regarding changes in Metro services, schedules and other essential passenger information should be communicated regularly through display boards, public announcement systems and official social media platforms, the minister further directed.

“Ganeshotsav is a major celebration of faith and enthusiasm for Mumbaikars. During this period, lakhs of devotees use suburban trains, Metro and public transport for Ganesh darshan. It is therefore essential for transport agencies to work in coordination to ensure that devotees face no inconvenience and that their journey remains safe, smooth and timely. To prevent disruptions caused by heavy crowds, Metro and railway authorities must effectively implement additional services, enhanced security arrangements and crowd management measures,” said Cabinet Minister Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha.