In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of abled commuters traveling in the handicap compartments of Central Railway's local trains. In the last three years, railway security forces have taken action against 9,362 passengers at Thane railway station for traveling in physically challenged coaches. Most of the action took place between January 1 and December 13 where the number of these passengers was 3,870. Yet, there is no reduction in the number of people traveling in the physically challenged coaches.
The number of passengers traveling in handicap compartments from Thane railway station is on constant rise. In order to enable the physically challenged people to travel safely, the suburban trains have a reserved compartment for the physically challenged. However, infiltration of abled passengers has increased in these coaches. Suburban trains are crowded with employees during night and morning hours of travel. To avoid the rush, often passengers commute in the physically challenged coaches. Along with this they take over the seats as well posing problems to physically challenged commuters.
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Between 2022 and 2024, action was taken against a total of 9,362 passengers for unauthorized travel in physically challenged coaches, with all of them being produced in court. At Thane station, 2,515 passengers faced action in 2022, while the number increased to 2,977 in 2023. The highest number of cases, 3,870, occurred between January 1 and December 13, 2024. This year alone, 2,061 passengers were penalized between January 1 and June 30, followed by 1,809 passengers from July 1 to December 13.