LIFE IN A LOCAL
MUMBAI LOCAL: THE SUBURBAN SAVIOUR!
As the clock strikes 4.15 AM, Ahmed takes a quick bath and gets ready to catch the 4:49 Karjat Mumbai Fast. He lives with his family in the northern suburb of Karjat where he has rented a house just 600m from the railway station so that he can walk to the station and save money. He works at the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) .Coming back to his routine, he leaves home at 4.38 AM as he takes approximately 7 minutes to reach the platform 3 of the Karjat railway station and keeps a reserve time of 4 minutes for any unexpected delays on his way. He rests for a minute or so before the engine of the train becomes visible and chugs into the station.
He still remembers how he had struggled the first day he tried to board the local. He had left every local with the thought that the next would be emptier but that 'emptier' local never came! Finally, that day he had to take a cab to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus spending a huge fortune of ₹700(In perspective, his monthly season ticket was ₹400!)As the days passed, Ahmed became a pakka Mumbaikar, which comes with its own perks like catching a local even in rush hours.
At first, he too had a dilemma of how to spend the 94 minute ride to CST(Since it was a fast local, it didn't stop at all stations, it stopped at 18 stations in total). At first, he thought of reading books but it was practically not possible to concentrate in a crowded train, especially when there are pickpockets around! After considering many things, he zeroed in on listening to his favourite songs and plugged his earphones to some of his favourite songs. This ensured that no pickpocket could steal his phone and also has an additional benefit of not sleeping even if he gets a seat. His playlist was of exactly 93 minutes to ensure that the songs stop and he becomes alert one minute before the local arrives at CST. He had chosen his favourite spot near the door(not too near, else he would be pushed out at every halt!) as it was airy there.
The train leaves Karjat Junction at 4.49 AM. Some last minute fellows are seen trying to imitate Bolt and catch the train while it's leaving the station.But mind you, it's dangerous. Ahmed himself had seen many accidents and had decided that its better not to chase even a slowly running local and to wait for the next one. This is because, unlike conventional trains, the locals with their EMUs pick up speed really fast and you don't want to come underneath it while chasing it.
First came Bhivpuri Road, which is famous for a waterfall, 4 kilometres from the station.
Now, the train chugs into Kalyan Junction. Here the crowd is at one of its peak. Kalyan is said to be one of the busiest stations in the country with 6.5 million passengers and about 1000 trains passing through it everyday! This is overwhelming for a first time passenger but nothing new for the regular ones. They know what the future holds and that more is about to come in the succeeding stations.
As the clock strikes 4.15 AM, Ahmed takes a quick bath and gets ready to catch the 4:49 Karjat Mumbai Fast. He lives with his family in the northern suburb of Karjat where he has rented a house just 600m from the railway station so that he can walk to the station and save money. He works at the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) .Coming back to his routine, he leaves home at 4.38 AM as he takes approximately 7 minutes to reach the platform 3 of the Karjat railway station and keeps a reserve time of 4 minutes for any unexpected delays on his way. He rests for a minute or so before the engine of the train becomes visible and chugs into the station.
All of a sudden, the whole crowd becomes active and they become ready to push and pull and get into the train. As the first fast local of the day chugs into Karjat Junction, crowds have started boarding the train even before the train has come to a halt. Ahmed had been travelling by this very local for 3 years now and had faced a delay just twice. The local was almost never late. Ahmed boards the train swiftly and takes his favourite place, near the door.
He still remembers how he had struggled the first day he tried to board the local. He had left every local with the thought that the next would be emptier but that 'emptier' local never came! Finally, that day he had to take a cab to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus spending a huge fortune of ₹700(In perspective, his monthly season ticket was ₹400!)As the days passed, Ahmed became a pakka Mumbaikar, which comes with its own perks like catching a local even in rush hours.
At first, he too had a dilemma of how to spend the 94 minute ride to CST(Since it was a fast local, it didn't stop at all stations, it stopped at 18 stations in total). At first, he thought of reading books but it was practically not possible to concentrate in a crowded train, especially when there are pickpockets around! After considering many things, he zeroed in on listening to his favourite songs and plugged his earphones to some of his favourite songs. This ensured that no pickpocket could steal his phone and also has an additional benefit of not sleeping even if he gets a seat. His playlist was of exactly 93 minutes to ensure that the songs stop and he becomes alert one minute before the local arrives at CST. He had chosen his favourite spot near the door(not too near, else he would be pushed out at every halt!) as it was airy there.
The train leaves Karjat Junction at 4.49 AM. Some last minute fellows are seen trying to imitate Bolt and catch the train while it's leaving the station.But mind you, it's dangerous. Ahmed himself had seen many accidents and had decided that its better not to chase even a slowly running local and to wait for the next one. This is because, unlike conventional trains, the locals with their EMUs pick up speed really fast and you don't want to come underneath it while chasing it.
Now, most locals on the Central Line have route maps above the doors and have public announcement systems. Ahmed stands at his favourite place, also taking care of his safety by ensuring that he doesn't go too near the door.
He's listening to his playlist which he carefully curates every 2 weeks and includes some English and Hindi classics like Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven and Lata Mangeshkar's Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh. He also includes latest English and Hindi songs too. He keeps his bag hung in front of him and his wallet too resides in a hidden pocket inside his bag. These golden tips of avoiding theft hadn't been taught to him by anyone. These he had learned with past experiences and situations. Then the stations come and go in a flurry. At almost every station, each passenger who's in the train hopes that more passengers get down and the train becomes emptier but the exact reverse happens at each station! People climb in droves and hardly a couple of them alight.
First came Bhivpuri Road, which is famous for a waterfall, 4 kilometres from the station.
Next, comes Neral Junction, famous for its train to Matheran, a famous hill station.
Next comes Shelu, another affordable neighbourhood for Mumbaikars.
After this comes Vangani, which also attracts crowds because of the Bhagirath Waterfalls on the eastern side of the railway station.
Next comes Badlapur(here Thane district starts) , a station that is more known because of a 2015 Bollywood movie of the same name.
After this comes Ambernath, which is famous for its Shiv Temple.
Next comes, Ulhasnagar, where crowds have started pouring in. Ulhasnagar has a rich history and in the WW2, was known as Kalyan Military transit camp. After this, we have a Vithalwadiz which is a relatively calmer station on the busy line.
Now, the train chugs into Kalyan Junction. Here the crowd is at one of its peak. Kalyan is said to be one of the busiest stations in the country with 6.5 million passengers and about 1000 trains passing through it everyday! This is overwhelming for a first time passenger but nothing new for the regular ones. They know what the future holds and that more is about to come in the succeeding stations.
Next comes Dombivli which is a twin of Kalyan in the Census.
After this is Thane, from where the first ever train in India had terminated its maiden journey. Here, the crowds are uncontrollable.
Next comes Ghatkopar which is the mall hub of the city. From Phoenix Market City to the R City Mall, we have it all here!
After this is Kurla Junction, again infamous for its unruly crowds. This is because the station is an interchange between the Central and Harbour Lines.
Next station is Matunga. This locality is one of the first well planned localities in the city but the same cannot be said about the station.
After this, there's another deadly crowd waiting at Dadar, the interchange between Western and Central lines.
The second last station on the line, Parel was once a less preferred low lying area but now is a posh business district in the city.
Then comes Byculla, earlier known for its mills and now known for its diversity and secular population.
Then comes Byculla, earlier known for its mills and now known for its diversity and secular population.
At 6:41 AM, Ahmed's playlist's last song has just finished and he becomes alert. At the same time various tracks come into view as the train chugs into the historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(erstwhile Victoria Terminus). At exactly 6.42 AM, Ahmed gets down as soon as the train screeches to a halt. The station is teeming with passengers from many parts of Mumbai like Vashi, Panvel, Chembur, Wadala(Harbour Line) and from Kalyan, Thane, Dadar, Dombivili(Central Line). Most of them are hurrying out like Ahmed for their offices while a few are there to catch trains back to their homes as they return from their night shifts.
Ahmed walks towards the exit and then crosses the junction which connects the Nagarpalika Marg and Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Road passing by many eateries and small restaurants on his way but as always, he has Vada Pav at Cannon Vada Pav.
Munching his vada pav he reaches his office by 7:03AM where a new day and new work awaits him.
Soon, it's 3 PM and it's time to return. This time he takes the 95505 CST Khopoli Fast local. The whole morning journey repeats itself again but in reverse and just more crowded than the morning one!
Ahmed walks towards the exit and then crosses the junction which connects the Nagarpalika Marg and Dr. Dadabhai Naoroji Road passing by many eateries and small restaurants on his way but as always, he has Vada Pav at Cannon Vada Pav.
Munching his vada pav he reaches his office by 7:03AM where a new day and new work awaits him.
Soon, it's 3 PM and it's time to return. This time he takes the 95505 CST Khopoli Fast local. The whole morning journey repeats itself again but in reverse and just more crowded than the morning one!
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