Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 11: In a thoughtful move aimed at easing travel for the elderly, Central Railway has rolled out Mumbai’s first dedicated senior citizen coach on its suburban network. The new facility was launched on Thursday with the 3:45 pm CSMT–Dombivli local, marking a significant milestone in commuter convenience for the city’s elderly population.
88-year-old Rajpati Upadhyaya, a retired security professional, had the honour of becoming the first official passenger of the coach. Carrying his government-issued senior citizen card and IDs as usual, Upadhyaya was pleasantly surprised when informed of his status.
“I always travel with my IDs. I’m going to Mulund. It feels really good to know there’s a coach exclusively for us now. Boarding regular coaches during peak hours is often a struggle. I hope the railway enforces rules strictly so that only senior citizens can access this coach,” he said with joy.
Another commuter, Balasaheb Bagul (61), who boarded the coach at Currey Road, echoed similar sentiments.
“This was much needed. Earlier, we just had a few reserved seats — it was barely enough. Now we have an entire coach. It’s also roomier. This coach was earlier used as a luggage compartment and usually stayed vacant in the afternoon. Converting it for seniors is a commendable move,” Bagul said.
According to Central Railway officials, the plan is to convert all 156 suburban trains to include one senior citizen coach each, at a total estimated cost of Rs 7.573 crore. The conversion cost per coach is Rs 4.85 lakh.
“This initiative is part of our continued efforts to enhance inclusivity in public transport. The first dedicated senior citizen coach was prepared by Matunga Workshop and is now operational on Mumbai’s suburban route,” said Dr Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway.
With this initiative gaining momentum, thousands of senior citizens across Mumbai’s bustling railway network are expected to benefit from safer, more comfortable travel in the days ahead.