The local trains are the best way of getting around the city, in spite of their bad reputation.
The Mumbai local trains are quite famous, or rather infamous. With the recent Elphinstone stampede, the death toll due to city railways has risen to 3,800 in the last year.
In spite of the dangers, it is almost impossible to survive in the city without using these trains. They are very aptly nicknamed ‘the lifeline of the city’, transporting an astounding 8 million commuters per day. But, local train accidents occur frequently. So, it is a good idea to opt for a health insurance policy which keeps you covered against any unforeseen circumstances
Here’s a beginner’s step-by-step guide to surviving the chaos of the local trains and getting around the city.
Know the Rail Routes
There are three basic Mumbai local rail lines – Western Line, Central Line, and the Harbor Line. As a traveler, you ought to know all the stops on each, and a mobile app that offers this is a good option. The most popular smartphone application for Mumbai local trains (and buses) is called M-indicator and it is both comprehensive and to-the-point. However, as a beginner, writing down the stop you need to get off on, and the one before it, is a good idea, especially if you have an unreliable data connection.
Know the Type of Train
There are essentially two types of trains on all local train routes (except Harbor line, which runs only slow trains) – fast and slow. The fast trains are, as the name suggests, fast and stop at only limited stations. The slow trains stop at all the stations along the way.
Timing Is Everything
Peak hours are when most of the disasters happen. So, a personal accident insurance policy would be the best choice to opt for and it’s better to avoid the local trains during the rush hours between 9:00 to 11:00 in the morning and 4:30 and 8:00 in the evening. Usually, the best time to take the local is between 1:00 and 3:00 in the afternoon.
However, if you are a new to Mumbai and need to get to and fro from work yourself, travelling between 7:00 and 8:00 in the morning and after 8:00 in the evening would help you skip a large part of the crowd.
Get a Local Train Smart Card
Whether or not you use the Mumbai local daily, having a local train smart card is a good idea. It will help you avoid the long queues at the booking counter, and allow you to book both one-way and return tickets at the Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM), when you do travel by local train. The card costs around ₹100 and can be used on any of the local train lines.
Go First Class
First class compartments are often less crowded even during peak hours. This is because their tickets cost more. However, there is no queue for first-class tickets and you can just walk up to the counter to buy one, and no one in the queue will even resist. Moreover, less crowd also means less pushing and pulling and hanging on doors, allowing you to travel in relative comfort.
Following this guide will certainly make it easier for you to travel in local trains. However, when you commute daily, you never know when disaster could strike. Having an personal accident insurance allows you to be financially prepared for any accident and related hospitalization that you may face.
ICICI Lombard also provides health insurance plans like Complete Health Insurance , Health Booster, Arogya Sanjeevani Policy, Corona Kavach Policy which offers people with the much needed financial backup during any medical emergencies.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Personal Accident Insurance
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