Mumbai’s local trains, often called the city’s lifeline, are facing increasing disruptions due to frequent instances of alarm chain pulling (ACP) on long-distance trains. In 2024 alone, up to December 30, a staggering 3,094 cases of ACP were reported in the Mumbai Division of Central Railway.
To curb this misuse, the Mumbai Division has intensified its crackdown on offenders. On December 29, seven individuals were prosecuted in court under Section 141 of the Railway Act for pulling the alarm chain without valid reasons.
The Divisional Railway Manager of Central Railways, Mumbai Division, shared on X (formerly Twitter), “Strict action is being taken against offenders using ACP for petty reasons. We appeal to citizens not to misuse this facility.”
Impact on Train Operations
The repercussions of ACP misuse go beyond immediate delays. On average, 12 suburban trains in the Mumbai Division face delays of up to 10 minutes daily due to such incidents.
This leads to overcrowded platforms, frustrated passengers, and compromised safety protocols.
Additionally, the Central Railway faces a cumulative punctuality loss of nearly 15%, posing significant challenges in delivering efficient and reliable transportation services.
“ACP misuse not only disrupts the train being delayed but also impacts other trains following the same route. In a busy suburban system like Mumbai’s, this results in the late running of both Mail/Express and suburban trains, severely affecting their punctuality,” explained a senior officer of Central Railway.
“The Alarm Chain Pulling feature, provided for emergencies, is frequently misused for trivial reasons such as passengers arriving late or attempting to board or alight at intermediate stations. This selfish behavior causes inconvenience to thousands of passengers while disrupting the entire system” said an official.
“Cases are being registered under Section 141 of the Railway Act, which prescribes a fine of Rs 1,000, imprisonment for up to a year, or both,” further stated official. In 2024, the Mumbai Division RPF arrested 2,658 offenders, collected fines totaling Rs 14,95,500, and secured convictions resulting in the imprisonment of 24 individuals.
“The Central Railway appeals to passengers to use the ACP feature responsibly, emphasizing that its misuse inconveniences thousands and undermines the efficiency of Mumbai’s vital suburban train network” said an official.
Monthly Breakdown of ACP Cases in 2024
January: 241, February: 250, March: 247, April: 276, May: 276, June: 270
July: 253, August: 240, September: 256, October: 249, November: 273,
December (up to 30): 265
