A survey by Western Railway (WR) and NGO Humlog has revealed that an overwhelmingly large number of passengers want the Rajdhani Express to halt at Andheri station. Over 75 per cent of Rajdhani's passengers, according to the survey, are from the stretch between Bandra and Borivli.
"We realised this after we checked the addresses of passengers travelling by Rajdhani and the August Kranti Rajdhani Express," a senior WR official said.
The official added, "A proposal has been sent to the Railway Board. Passengers on the Rajdhani have to come all the way to Mumbai Central to board the train. Andheri would be more convenient."
Advocate Vijay Singh from Humlog said, "We have requested that the Rajdhani halt at Bandra Terminus, but till that happens, it can stop at Andheri." Singh added that the halt would also minimise traffic congestion in the Western suburbs.
Andheri resident Neelam Gupta is hoping the proposal goes through. She said, "How will the railways suffer if they halt the train at Andheri just for a minute?" Gupta has to leave her home at 1.30 pm to board the 4.50 pm Rajdhani from Mumbai Central.
C P Sharma, divisional railway manager, WR, said, "I'll make it a point to bring this to the Railway ministry's notice."