MUMBAI: Central Railway’s timetable was disrupted on Tuesday after Diva level crossing gate LC-29 was opened repeatedly for road traffic, resulting in over 36 minutes of cumulative detention and delays to several train services.The gate was opened for more than 12 minutes on three occasions, around 10.35am, 11.10am and from 12.11pm to 12.21pm, as heavy road traffic was allowed to pass.The repeated interruptions affected train movements on the Up, Down, fifth and sixth lines.Several suburban and long-distance services were detained, with the delays cascading to subsequent trains operating through the busy Diva section.Railway officials said the prolonged gate openings were necessitated by heavy road traffic.The repeated interruptions highlight the operational challenge of accommodating road traffic at a level crossing on a busy railway corridor.On normal days, trains are held up by 5–7 minutes beyond the usual three-minute halt for gate operation, a problem that occurs several times daily.The Diva LC gate is one of the most problematic on the suburban network, officials admitted. It is opened around 39 times a day, delaying trains by 5–10 minutes each time.During peak hours, the gates stay open for 8–12 minutes due to bumper-to-bumper vehicular movement.CR estimates that the crossing handles nearly 8–9 lakh vehicles daily, causing recurrent hold-ups that affect 80–90 trains on the CSMT–Kalyan corridor.
