One glitch, a city thrown off track: Why Mumbai remains so dependent on local trains

A fire in a Kanjurmarg signalling hut blanked 24 signals, cancelled 80 Central Railway locals and left commuters walking on tracks, showing how one fault can disrupt Mumbai’s suburban network. With violent incidents on trains, chain-pulling, maintenance blocks and waterlogged roads, commuters say there is no easy Plan B. The story asks how much disruption the city can afford.