Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 12: The tragic accident on Monday near Mumbra station, where four passengers were thrown off overcrowded local trains and lost their lives, has once again exposed the grave issues plaguing Mumbai's suburban railway network — namely, chronic overcrowding and persistent train delays.

Following the incident, all eyes have turned to Diva Junction, one of the busiest nodes on the Central Railway’s Main Line, and particularly its level crossing, which is now being flagged as a major disruptor in rail operations.

Railway officials revealed that out of the 894 services operating on the Main Line daily, nearly 70-75% trains halt at Diva station, making it a critical transit hub. Yet, the level crossing at Diva, which intersects all ten rail tracks, continues to hinder punctual train movement. On average, the crossing gates are opened at least 39 times a day to accommodate an estimated 8–9 lakh vehicles, severely impacting train schedules.

To address the issue, authorities have initiated the construction of a Road Over Bridge (ROB) to replace the level crossing and ensure uninterrupted vehicular and train movement. However, delays in completing the ROB have aggravated the problem, with railway officials concerned that the level crossing’s continued operation is not only contributing to frequent delays but also putting lives at risk.

“The ROB is a long-pending solution to one of our most pressing bottlenecks,” a Central Railway source told Daijiworld. “Until it is completed, we’re forced to manage both rail and road traffic manually, which leads to cascading delays across the network.”

The fatal mishap near Mumbra has reignited the debate on urban infrastructure and commuter safety. With lakhs of daily passengers relying on the lifeline that is Mumbai’s suburban train system, experts argue that expedited completion of the Diva ROB and permanent closure of the level crossing could be pivotal in reducing delays and potentially preventing further tragedies.