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Mumbai's over-aged lifeline

Nearly 500 coaches of Mumbai's local trains are on the tracks despite crossing their operational life of 25 years.

In a reply to an RTI application filed by Mumbai resident Chetan Kothari, it was found that 240 EMU coaches of the suburban central railway and 237 coaches of the Mumbai western railway were over-aged.

Mumbai's over-aged lifeline

The life of the coaches is 25 years after which it is termed over-aged. When asked about the overaged coaches, the public relations officer of Mumbai Western Railways, Nitin David said, "These over aged coaches will be off the track in another six to seven months. It is being done in a phased manner. We receive rakes in lots and work is being carried on."

Mumbai's over-aged lifeline

However, he said, "Extra time and extra precaution, including extra expenditure, is being incurred for the maintenance of these coaches for passenger safety".

Mumbai's over-aged lifeline

With over a lakh commuters using these coaches everyday, they constantly undergo wear and tear.

While western railways has a total of 1196 EMU coaches which run at a speed of 80 kmph, central railways has 2348 EMU coaches, which run at a speed of 100 kmph.