Commuters faced major inconvenience on Friday morning as services on Mumbai's Trans-Harbour line were abruptly suspended following a girder misalignment during overnight construction work at Airoli. Thousands of daily passengers were left stranded or forced to find alternate transport options during peak hours, causing significant delays and crowding at nearby stations.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had undertaken a night block to install 10 girders between Airoli and Rabale. However, following a major error in the work on the Airoli-Katai naka road over the bridge at Airoli, Trans-Harbour local train services were suspended since 7:10 AM, leading to huge inconvenience for commuters.
Sources reported that the girders placed last night were found to be tilted, triggering safety concerns. Dr. Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Central Railway, stated, "MMRDA had taken a block from 1:00 to 4:00 at night on the Trans-Harbour line to launch girders between Thane and Airoli. It has been noticed that the girders launched are tilted. The traffic is suspended from 7:10 because of this." As of now, the MMRDA has not issued an official statement on the matter.
Restoration work to rectify the tilted girders began at 8:15 AM. According to officials, Trans-Harbour line services were restored at 11:30 AM. However, the disruption caused significant inconvenience to commuters, many of whom were unaware of the suspension until they arrived at the stations.
Passengers waiting at Thane station reported that they had to seek alternative means of transport, such as buses and cars, to reach their workplaces. Many expressed frustration over the lack of communication regarding the service disruptions. One commuter, Harshal Joshi, mentioned, "I didn’t get any information on the app. I waited for about an hour before I found out that the services were suspended."
The MMRDA had taken a mega block from 1 AM to 4 AM on May 9, 2025, to launch girders between Thane and Airoli. However, it was later discovered that the girders were tilted, leading to the suspension of train services at 7:10 AM. Central Railway officials indicated that services might not return to normal until after 10 AM, pending safety inspections and structural expert approvals.
The situation was exacerbated as trains on the main line were also delayed by more than 30 minutes. Commuters traveling between Thane and Navi Mumbai reported that they were forced to wait for an extended period, with many stating that they had no idea when normal services would resume.
In response to the chaos, Central Railway issued an apology to passengers for the inconvenience caused, advising them to check for the latest updates before planning their journeys. The railway's helpline number and website were cited as resources for obtaining current information.
As restoration efforts continued, heavy crowding was reported at Thane station during peak hours, with many commuters expressing their frustration on social media. One user tweeted, "Mumbai local trains on the central line are late by 45 minutes during peak hours. What a shameless management! They have no respect for time!"
Officials assured that they were working diligently to resolve the issues and restore services as quickly as possible. However, the lack of clear announcements left many passengers confused, prompting them to switch to road transport to reach their destinations.
Overall, the incident highlights the challenges faced by Mumbai's local train system, which is often referred to as the city's lifeline. With millions relying on these services daily, any disruption can have widespread implications, affecting not just travel plans but also the daily routines of countless commuters.
As the situation unfolds, commuters are advised to remain vigilant and check for updates regularly, especially as the MMRDA and Central Railway continue their efforts to rectify the issues caused by the tilted girders. The hope is that lessons will be learned from this incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
