Agar rickshawalle motormen bann gaye toh...

Meaning: If auto rickshaw drivers became motormen of Mumbai local trains.

Meri Marzi!!!

• You want to go to Goregaon from Churchgate. But they will refuse to go citing it's a short distance. They have higher (or rather longer) aims... at least Nallasopara. 

• You punch a valid Rs 10 coupon for your destination. But they refuse to let you board the train. They say, "At least pay half return fare since no one boards the train for the reverse direction."

• It's raining cats and dogs and tigers. You try to reach your destination Kharghar asap. 17 trains pass Kurla station, none halts. Why? Well, they just don't feel like ferrying you. For them, it's the best opportunity and way to harass the bechaara public.

•  832 people are standing to board a train from platform number 1 of Wadala station. But only one is allowed to board the train. Why? Sharing nahi chalega!!!

• You board a train from Churchgate to Bandra. These are the stations you see -  Charni Road, Grant Road, Sandhurst Road, Dockyard Road, Raey Road, Currey Road, Wadala Road, Elphinston Road and Matunga Road. Why? Road pe ghuma raha hai... ab extra fare bharo!!!

Disclaimer: Not all Mumbai rickshaw drivers are rude / inconsiderate / mean. But quite a few are.
At 10 pm tonight, I had to stand by the road during heavy rains, without any umbrella / wind cheater / shelter, when no rickshaw driver agreed to ferry me to my house 15 mins away. One even asked for a fixed higher illogical fare. I stood there helpless, furious and desperate while as always the auto rickshaw drivers ruled the roads. Not that this happened for the first time, but I had to write... eventually.

Thank God for the train services. Hope no such rickshawallah ever becomes a motorman.

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Mumbai train / motormen strike status

Strike update at 6 pm: Strike called off, Mumbai local trains are running now.

170 motormen arrested - IBN Live As per the news, Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) has been imposed on the motormen who are on strike. They have been given three hours to return to work (news published at 1.14 pm).
MNS threatens motormen - NDTV

Earlier post on this blog on Motormen Strike.

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Mumbai local train motormen to operate empty stomach

RememberWR and CR motormen were all set to go on a strike on 26th January 2010 (read about it here) when the authorities assured them that their demands will be considered? The strike was called off at the last minute (read about this here) so that we commuters don't suffer. It's been 3 months and the motormen's issues aren't resolved yet! It seems that there has not been a single meeting about this. 

Helpless motormen now have come up with a new decision - to operate the WR and CR local trains on empty stomach from Monday, May 3! 

With lakhs of commuters dependent on the motormen, this sure is a cause for concern.The demands of the motormen are pending since a really long time. One of the demands is the inclusion of an assistant motorman on every train. And considering yesterday's news about the Dead Man's Handle, this demand has to be met, right?

God knows when will our systems get over with postponing things for ever! Coz it's always said "We are looking into the matter"! What do you think?

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Mumbai trains' motormen taking a huge risk!

MID DAY REPORT: Mumbai local train motormen flout safety norms

Can't believe the above report is true. But it seems that some motormen are flouting a seriously important rule. They are supposed to hold the Dead Man's Handle when the train is in motion or halts at any station but are instead locking it up to the mike! It might be 'highly inconvenient', but then aren't they aware of it before taking up the job? Wonder what's the solution?

What is Dead Man's Handle (DMH):
By definition, Dead Man's Handle (DMH) is a switch that is automatically operated in case the human operator becomes incapacitated.

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WR motormen, guards refuse to wear uniforms

Western Railway guards and motormen are refusing to wear uniforms. And if we think from their point of view, in a way it's justified. After all, when there are problems at stations due to train delays or rail roko, these motormen and the guards have to bear the brunt of the angry junta / protesters. In absence of railway authorities at the scene, the motormen and guards are easily identifiable and end up suffering even when they are not at fault.

Though there must be reasons why uniforms are necessary in certain professions, I think security of the personnel should be the priority. What do you think?

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Motormen strike status: 26th January strike called off

Here's some respite for Mumbai local train commuters! The motormen have called off the 26th January strike after receiving assurance that their demands will be considered. Yes!!! The strike now stands cancelled!

The railways had issued an ad in the newspapers on Monday requesting the people to cooperate during the strike and had even made arrangements to ensure the safety of motormen not participating in the strike. Read about it here.

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Central and western railway prepare for 26th January motormen strike

LATEST STRIKE UPDATE, 25th January, 10:00 pm: The motormen strike has been called off!

25th January 2010: That the motormen of central and western line local trains will be going on strike on 26th January is confirmed. Now with just around 200 motormen working on the Republic Day, disruption of suburban train services and commuter inconvenience is obvious.

Aware of the way people / unions participating in the strike react when trains do not run as per schedule and given the fact that eventually the motormen at work face all the brunt, Central and Western railways are taking several precautionary steps.

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Why are trains late today?

22 January 2010: I reached Navi Mumbai's Seawoods station around 6:30 pm to reach Vashi. An announcement was being made at the station that trains are running late and some provisions are being made to help the commuters.

I browsed through the Internet and discovered the reason for the trains being late. As per some news websites, motormen association of Central Railway went on a strike as the demands of the motormen (drivers) are long pending. The demands include better pay, better working conditions and a weekly off. However,they called off their strike soon with the condition that if their demands are not met,they'll go on strike on 26th January.

News sources: Zee News, SamayLive

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It’s not a strike? Local trains running late, NDTV website has a different story

Alright, while the other news channels and websites are talking about motormen going on strike due to various issues, NDTV says the trains are late due to a different reason. Well, if you know the truth, do let us know.
DNA
ZEE News
SamayLive
Rediff

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Central Railway motormen strike update; Trains running late

Motormen strike update: Trains are currently running 20-40 minutes late (on 26th October 2009, at 4 pm).

If you have the latest update, do let us know.

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Trains, Rains and Me in Mumbai – 14th July 2009 Morning

I couldn’t sleep last night for 2 reasons. Firstly, I was completely unwell. Secondly, the sound of breeze with heavy rainfall was frightening enough to awaken Kumbhakaran from his sleep.

So for me, there was no question of sleeping until late due to the sleepy rainy climate. I got up from bed with fever and acidity but I was sure I’ll be able to make it to work... somehow I have the tendency to reach office almost on time especially when it’s pouring kutte billi.

I managed to catch my regular train from Koparkhairane, coz it was a few minutes late. Then I managed to catch a train starting from Vashi almost instantly, coz it was some 45 minutes late. And then, what I was expecting happened – the train wasn’t crowded! I knew that Navi Mumbai janta will leave late from home until they are sure that the local trains are running properly.

Getting off at Kurla and rushing to another platform for my last train in the morning too was like cakewalk – no cheekhna chillaana, no pushing on the foot-over bridge, no giddiness. But soon I faced reality when I started feeling like mayonnaise in a burger… smashed like hell in the crowded compartment. The overcrowded train appeared to prove to the tortoise that it was slower and steadier. Not to blame the motorman of our CST bound local train who was taking utmost care to ensure that the train moved smoothly as water logging had started on the tracks. I noticed people near Tilak Bridge station walking in knee-deep water (zero exaggeration) and wondered if the situation in Parel would be the same. Fortunately, I escaped water-walk at Parel and reached office just a few minutes late.

Well, so my journey to work on a bad rainy day was pleasant enough – not drenched, not very late and all. But then, the day was going too good to be true. Things aren’t that perfect always, are they? Here’s about my return trip.

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