My working days always start with a bit of chaos and the need to rush.
When Trupti Bagwe leaves her home in Dombivli, a suburban city and part of Mumbai Metropolitan Region, at 7:10 AM sharp, she’s already racing against the clock. Missing her 7:25 train isn’t an option – it’s the one train that stands between her and a manageable start to the workday. “When I get up in the morning, that's the one thing that I have in mind: to catch my 7:25 AM. I cannot afford to miss it, because if I skip that train, all trains later are too crowded. My working days always start with a bit of chaos and the need to rush – that’s stress.”
Trupti is a Supervisor in the Digital Customer Service team at Hapag-Lloyd in Mumbai, India. Her daily commute is a 1.5-hour patchwork of rickshaw rides, train platforms, and metro transfers. It’s noisy, physically demanding, and unpredictable. But it’s also part of her rhythm. A constant in a city that never slows down.
Hover over the stops to track Trupti's route:
The local trains of Mumbai are legendary. Packed to the brim, bursting with movement and stories, they are more than a means of transport – they are a lifeline. For Trupti, they are also a place of unexpected connection. Over time, she became part of a commuter group – the “7:25 WhatsApp group” – a diverse circle of fellow travelers who’ve built their own kind of community. Senior citizens, students, working parents – they share jokes, snacks, and even birthday wishes.
The local train becomes more than just a mode of transport; it’s a lifeline that connects people from different walks of life, creating lasting friendships amidst the chaos. “I am doing power yoga, advanced yoga. I got to know this through my train friend. She said: ‘If you’re feeling unwell, don't solely rely on medication. Embrace yoga; it has the power to heal you from within.’ It changed and added value to my life. Yoga is something, which gives me me-time.”
Mumbai's local trains carry about
commuters daily
Source: The CSA Journal
Despite the chaos, there's a beauty in it.
Still, the commute comes with its risks. She’s seen friends lose shoes while jumping onto trains, and knows the dangers of overcrowded platforms all too well – especially during monsoon season.
Despite it all, Trupti remains grounded by her love for her work. “I feel like I’m part of a ‘wow’-transformation at Hapag-Lloyd,” she says with pride. “That’s what keeps me going.” The company’s hybrid model – two days a week from home –also helps her find some balance.
Each station along the way has its own mood, its own scent. “Every station has its own unique vibe and smell,” she reflects. From the aroma of freshly baked biscuits to the cacophony of industry and commerce, the local train journey is a sensory adventure unlike any other. “It’s loud, vibrant, and unmistakably Mumbai. Despite the chaos, there’s a beauty in it – a sense of belonging that keeps me going.”
As the train rattles on, Trupti’s thoughts drift to the future. “I hope,” she says “one day, we’ll have safer, more efficient transport options – with closed doors. Until then, we’ll keep riding the waves of Mumbai’s lifeline, one journey at a time.”
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