BJP's Mega rally chokes Mumbai's roads, trains

BJP party workers from across the country who were in the city for the mega rally at Bandra Kurla Complex for the party's Foundation Day gave Mumbaikars using the locals and road for their daily commute a tough time on Friday.

The Western Railways (WR) and Central Railways (CR) had to cancel local trains while a few services were running late. There was also some ruckus between the suburban commuters and BJP supporters inside an air-conditioned local. Sources from the WR said that at around 10.15 am, several BJP supporters entered the AC local at Vasai station without a valid ticket or pass. This irked the public travelling inside the train who boarded from Virar and Vasai.

The situation came to a point where arguments ensued between commuters and the supporters who were to alight at Bandra. A video of the same was uploaded to social media. "These supporters were asked to get down at Andheri station," said Ravinder Bhakar, Chief PRO, WR.

Throughout Friday, the WR authorities cancelled 6 locals and more than 15 trains were delayed. The WR operated 11 long-distance trains and CR operated 28 long-distance trains to ferry BJP party workers from various parts of the country to the city. "There was no effect on the suburban trains or other long-distance trains," said Sunil Udasi, Chief PRO, CR.

During the evening peak time hours, the traffic on the road went from bad to worse. The large numbers of BJP workers visiting from all over the state created traffic snarls on almost all the arterial roads of the city during the peak hours on Friday. "The traffic snarls were mostly reported in the nearby areas of the rally venue which was BKC," said a traffic police officer.