Mumbai Activist Backs Staggered Office Timings to Save Lives on Overcrowded Trains

Last Updated Jul - 17 - 2025, 06:28 PM | Source : Fela News

WorkToLiveToWork campaign founder Nandini Dias supports Maharashtra’s task force on flexible work hours, citing urgent need to reduce fatalities on Mumbai’s sub

After the state government appointed a task force to study the feasibility of staggered office timings to ease peak-hour congestion on local trains, Nandini Dias — creator of the *WorkToLiveToWork* campaign advocating flexible work hours — welcomed the move. Dias, who sits on the executive board of Mumbai First and serves as honorary secretary of the Indian chapter of the International Advertising Association (which launched the campaign in 2018), called it “a step in the right direction” and expressed her willingness to contribute to the task force.

Dias launched the initiative after two personal tragedies linked to Mumbai’s crowded suburban rail system: the loss of her elder brother in a train accident in 2016, followed by her executive assistant’s death in the 2017 Elphinstone Road stampede, which claimed 23 lives and injured dozens more. “They were both casualties of crumbling infrastructure and the pressures of rigid office timings,” she said.

Dias highlighted that at the time the campaign began, Mumbai’s suburban railway was claiming around nine to ten lives daily — totaling approximately 3,400 deaths a year. In 2018, Central Railway reached out to 800 companies to adopt staggered work hours, but only 46 small firms (each with under 25 employees) responded positively. A renewed appeal for collaboration was issued recently.

She noted that while some companies are concerned that flexible timings could hurt productivity, the pandemic proved otherwise. “Covid-19 has shown us that productivity isn’t compromised by remote or flexible work,” she said.

Dias stressed that fear of pay cuts for tardiness pushes thousands of workers into dangerously overcrowded trains each morning. “If Mumbai’s infrastructure takes another decade to improve, tens of thousands more may die in the meantime — unnoticed,” she warned.

Her campaign proposes flexible office entry timings between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., to ease pressure on the most dangerous hour: 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Reducing commuter load by even 25–30% could save lives and enhance employee wellbeing, she explained. “There has been progress — annual fatalities have dropped to about 2,600,” Dias noted.

The campaign has engaged top corporates like Tata, Mahindra, Birla, Piramal, Marico, and L\&T, along with organisations like NHRDN and Rotary Club, to communicate the benefits of decongestion and workplace culture reform.

Dias underscored that real change also hinges on government involvement. “Last year, central government offices were asked to adopt staggered timings, but without a solid implementation plan, it remained largely symbolic,” she said. “We need structured, accountable, and coordinated efforts to bring about lasting change.”

Trending this week

Family Donates Bengaluru House in Memory of Kritika for Spiritual Use

Oct - 17 - 2025

The family of Kritika M. Reddy, a 28 year old dermatologist whose death earlier this year shocked Bengaluru, have donated her house in the city&rsq... Read More

CBI Arrests Punjab DIG in High Scale Bribery Case Rs 5 Crore Seized

Oct - 17 - 2025

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made a dramatic move in Punjab’s law enforcement corridor by arresting Harcharan Singh Bhullar, the... Read More

Modi in Andhra Prayer Projects and Promise of Progress

Oct - 16 - 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Andhra Pradesh took on both spiritual and developmental importance. On October 16, he began his day b... Read More

Rahul Gandhi Accuses Modi of Yielding to Trump

Oct - 16 - 2025

In a sharp political salvo, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “frightened” of Donald Trump... Read More

Dramatic Turn in ASI Suicide Case Names Family

Oct - 16 - 2025

The police investigation into the shocking suicide of ASI Sandeep Kumar Lathar has taken a dramatic new turn. In Rohtak, authorities have registere... Read More

Prashant Kishor Steers Behind Scenes Not Poll Arena

Oct - 15 - 2025

In a surprising but strategic announcement, Prashant Kishor, leader and founder of Jan Suraaj Party, declared that he will not contest the upcoming... Read More

Mumbai Activist Backs Staggered Office Timings to Save Lives on Overcrowded Trains

Mumbai Activist Backs Staggered Office Timings to Save Lives on Overcrowded Trains

Trending this week

Get Connect

Explore

Education

Contact

Newsletter