Mumbai trains

‘Complex’ is what comes to my mind when I think about Mumbai trains. Complex because they touch lives of most in Mumbai. Because it rakes socio-economic-political issues. Because there are no easy solutions to reform it. Discussion on Mumbai trains is more than just about commuting.

The travail of commuting in a Mumbai train is well known. Just a couple of glimpses if you never heard of it.

Just try to imagine all these people piling in like sardines (we mean literally sardines) until there is no more physical space with the rest hanging off the edge of cabins. And then getting off the train is a completely different feat...you have to be mentally prepared prior to your stop and then since there is no space, you literally are shoved through to the other side of the train...it's kind of like floating amidst a sea of Indian people. And of course, there are those lovely occasions where you have to jump off the moving train otherwise you will be stuck for a few more stops to come.

When the train was about to stop (but still moving though) one could hear screams of tens of people. The screams grew louder as the trains speed dropped slowly like a omen foretelling what is to come. And all of a sudden the entire crowd started moving out of the train like water exiting fire-man's hose.

The Sport of Rush Hour Train Boarding in Mumbai

Everyone cribs about Mumbai trains. Some have got used to it. Some others were creative and took advantage of it.

Is anyone doing anything to improve the plight? Apparently “phase II” of the project is currently on with a spending of Rs. 3,125 crore (or $700 M). It apparently started around 2001 and the first phase, supposedly resulting in ‘reduction in overcrowding,’ should have ended by now. But the benefits are not to be seen. Whose responsibility is it to provide good commuting facility to the masses? How can they go home and sleep without addressing the problem millions face?

Some conjectures about the plight of the organization responsible for Mumbai trains

- It will be a loss making public sector unit

- Most probably a unit of Indian Railways without clear demarcation of responsibility or P&L

- Inefficient organization that can’t manage its costs well

- Cash strapped; debt ridden and so on.

Well, here are the facts:

- MRVC (Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd.)’s net margin in FY05 is 45%

- Its balance sheet has Rs. 130 crores ($30 M) in cash (I doubt most of it has come from borrowings)

- MRVC is a separate company

- It is a public sector unit

I will reserve my comments on the issues and my take on how to solve them to a post I will hopefully write later. But one thing is clear. When trains are a compelling way to travel in a city in which road travel is not really an option; when users have the power to pay; when it is profitable to carry on business; when any improvement you make will get wide recognition; history is waiting to happen—to be written in the names of those who can see the opportunity.