Diva Crossing Gate Chaos: Trains Delayed for Hours

Train services on Central Railway experienced considerable delays on Tuesday after the Diva level crossing gate LC-29 was opened multiple times to accommodate road traffic. Over 12 minutes of gate openings occurred on three separate occasions, leading to a cumulative detention of more than 36 minutes for various train services.

The disruptions affected train movements across multiple lines, causing cascading delays for both suburban and long-distance trains passing through the critical Diva section. Railway officials cited heavy road traffic as the reason for these prolonged gate operations.

This situation underscores the ongoing operational challenges posed by level crossings situated on busy rail corridors. The Diva LC gate is acknowledged as one of the most problematic on the suburban network, reportedly opening around 39 times daily and causing delays of 5-10 minutes each time.

During peak hours, the gate can remain open for 8-12 minutes due to severe vehicular congestion. Central Railway estimates that the crossing handles nearly 8 to 9 lakh vehicles daily, resulting in recurrent hold-ups that impact an estimated 80 to 90 trains operating on the CSMT-Kalyan corridor.