A major disruption on Mumbai’s Metro Line 1 led to chaotic scenes at Ghatkopar station on Monday morning, with passengers describing the situation as “stampede-like.” The disruption was caused by the withdrawal of a metro train around 8:30 am due to a technical issue related to speed performance. Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL), the line’s operator, confirmed the issue and stated that normal operations resumed shortly afterward. However, the brief delay caused an unexpected build-up of commuters, sparking widespread concern over safety and overcrowding.

Commuters took to social media to voice their frustration and called on authorities to act before a serious tragedy unfolds. Civic activists and citizens criticized the state’s inertia over the lack of metro expansion in the past decade, despite the massive rise in commuter load. Some noted that coach capacity has remained unchanged since the line’s launch in 2014, calling the stagnancy “shocking” and warning that continued neglect could lead to loss of life. Activist groups urged the government to prioritize public safety over profits and implement immediate measures like longer trains and increased frequency.

In a statement, MMOPL explained that the cancellation of a single trip results in nearly 1,750 fewer passenger slots during peak hours and that the cancelled train caused an overflow of approximately 500 additional commuters at Ghatkopar station, overwhelming the platform for at least 45 minutes. The operator is reportedly working on optimizing train speeds and reintroducing short-loop services between Ghatkopar and Andheri to ease congestion. A long-term proposal to acquire more coaches has been submitted to lenders, but commuters continue to demand faster and more proactive steps to ensure safety on one of Mumbai’s busiest metro corridors.