Local train services on Mumbai’s Harbour Line came to a grinding halt on Tuesday morning after a technical fault in the signal system near Nerul station disrupted traffic for over an hour. The snag, which began around 8 AM, caused severe delays across the route, leaving thousands of office-goers and daily commuters stranded at various stations.

The disruption led to heavy overcrowding at key stations like Vashi, Nerul, and Belapur, as commuters scrambled to find alternative modes of transport. Though special services were started from Vashi in an attempt to manage the rush, officials admitted the efforts fell short of easing the chaos.

The Harbour Line, which links Panvel to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), and the Trans-Harbour Line, connecting Panvel to Thane, are vital transport corridors, serving over 25 lakh commuters daily. A fault during peak hours on such a crucial route significantly disrupted daily schedules across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Frustrated passengers took to social media to express concerns, with many urging authorities to address what they described as frequent and poorly managed glitches. Several passengers complained of delays without announcements, lack of crowd control, and poor coordination during emergencies.

This latest disruption came just a day after a tragic accident on the Central Line near Mumbra, where four commuters died and nine were injured after falling from overcrowded trains. The victims reportedly fell when two trains crossed on a curve and the backpacks of footboard-travelling commuters brushed against each other, causing them to lose balance.

In light of Monday’s tragedy, the Railway Ministry has announced the rollout of automatic door-closing systems in both existing and upcoming local trains on the Mumbai Suburban network.