To ease the heavy peak-hour rush in Mumbai's local trains, the Maharashtra government has announced the formation of a high-level task force that will collaborate with private companies to implement alternate office timingsacross the city.

State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik confirmed the development, stating that the newly formed task force will include senior members from the state transport department, Indian Railways, and major corporate houses. The primary goal is to spread out daily commuting hours by encouraging offices to adopt flexible work shifts — such as 8 am to 4 pm or 10 am to 6 pm, instead of the conventional 9-to-5 schedule.

Mumbai’s suburban rail network, often referred to as the city’s lifeline, transports nearly 8 million commuters every day. It experiences massive congestion during the morning and evening peak hours. The resulting overcrowding not only puts immense strain on train platforms and compartments but also contributes to severe traffic jams across key roads in the city.

As part of the plan, a pilot phase will be launched in selected companies or regions to test the effectiveness of alternative working hours. If the model proves successful, the initiative will be expanded to cover more businesses and areas across Mumbai. Officials believe that such a step could significantly reduce the load on local trains and also help ease road traffic during rush hours.

This initiative is part of the Maharashtra government’sbroader vision to build a more commuter-friendly and sustainable urban transport system by promoting collaboration and practical solutions between the public and private sectors.