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Maharashtra Launches Task Force to Stagger Office Hours and Improve Transit Safety

State employees will shift their schedules by 30 minutes to ease peak-hour crowds.

Thane, India – June 14, 2025: A large crowd of commuters struggles to board local trains at Diva Railway Station, a week after the Mumbra train accident, emphasizing the need for urgent reforms in Mumbai's suburban rail network, in Thane, Mumbai, India, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Praful Gangurde / Hindustan Times) (Praful Gangurde)
Mumbai local train
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Overview

  • The task force brings together state transport officials, railway representatives and private-sector stakeholders to propose flexible office timings for Mumbai employers.
  • Government staff can begin work 30 minutes later and extend their day by the same amount to spread commuter demand across off-peak hours.
  • Regulatory action has been initiated against app-based transport services to curb unsafe practices and unlicensed operations.
  • The administration is studying alternative transit options including waterways, pod taxis and ropeways to diversify urban mobility.
  • Discussions with the Union Railway Ministry aim to convert all local trains into air-conditioned coaches without fare hikes while the PWD installs rumblers and speed boards on accident-prone highways.