#JustIn: Mumbai Local Train Services Disrupted After Unions Stage Protest Over FIR Against Engineer

Mumbai’s suburban train services came to an abrupt halt on Thursday evening after members of railway unions staged a flash protest at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). The demonstration began during peak commuter hours, severely affecting thousands of passengers who rely on the city’s local trains daily. The protest stemmed from the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against two railway engineers implicated in the June 9 Mumbra train accident that claimed five lives.

According to the Central Railway, employees at CSMT refused to let motormen and train managers operate between 5.50 pm and 6.45 pm, bringing the crucial Mumbai suburban rail network to a standstill. The unrest triggered chaos across the terminus, where evening passenger footfall typically reaches several lakhs. Many stranded commuters were seen waiting on platforms and spilling out toward the nearby Metro-3 station in search of alternate transport options.

Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Swapnil Nila confirmed that services resumed after the protesters were pacified. “Operations were suspended briefly at CSMT, but train movement normalized once discussions concluded with union members,” he said. The disruption lasted for about an hour before the unions, led by the National Railway Mazdoor Union (NRMU) and the Central Railway Mazdoor Union (CRMU), called off the strike.

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The protest was organized to oppose the FIR registered by the Government Railway Police against the engineers, which the unions claimed unfairly targeted staff for what they described as systemic lapses. The unions demanded that the FIR be withdrawn immediately, asserting that the employees should not be held solely responsible for the incident.

Investigations into the Mumbra accident revealed that a section of track replaced just four days before the tragedy had been left unwelded, leading to derailment and loss of life. The unions argue that the case underscores larger maintenance and safety issues within the railway infrastructure. Thursday’s flash protest serves as a stark reminder of how sensitive the balance remains between worker accountability and operational responsibility in one of the world’s busiest rail networks.

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