Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, May 9: Commuters faced severe disruptions on the Trans-Harbour local train services on Friday morning after a misalignment in girder placement during overnight construction at Airoli caused major delays.

The incident occurred after a night block was implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the installation of girders between Airoli and Rabale. However, the girders, which were placed as part of ongoing construction work, were found to be tilted, triggering safety concerns and halting train services from 7:10 am.

Thousands of daily commuters were left stranded or forced to seek alternate transport, leading to overcrowded stations and significant delays during peak hours.

Central Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer, Dr Swapnil Nila, explained, “MMRDA had taken a block from 1:00 am to 4:00 am to launch girders between Thane and Airoli. It has been noticed that the girders launched are tilted, and as a result, traffic was suspended from 7:10 am.”

Restoration efforts began promptly at 8:15 am, and services were successfully resumed by 11:30 am.

While the MMRDA has yet to release an official statement, this incident highlights the challenges of large-scale infrastructure projects and their impact on daily commuters.