Bombay HC asks Maharashtra govt to increase frequency of local trains in Mumbai

As the Maharashtra government is slowly easing the lockdown, the state government should increase the frequency of the local trains, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the state government. The state government opened up several sectors. Therefore, it is time to increase the frequency of the local trains, said a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni.

The lockdown has been pretty much lifted. The malls have started, hotels are allowed to start, government offices have also started functioning with 100 per cent efficiency also private offices have started functioning. The frequency of local trains on all three lines (western, central and harbour lines) has to be increased to reduce overcrowding, the bench said.

The court directed the state government to consider its suggestions and see if it can forward a proposal to the Railways for an increase in the frequency of trains. 

The court on Wednesday said the number of trains should be increased to 600 on the central and harbour lines and up to 700 on the western line.

"We cannot direct the Railways or the state government to increase the frequency. But, we hope and trust that the state government responds favourably to our suggestions," the court said in its order. "Our suggestion is not just for lawyers and their staff, but for the general public too, it said.