Can overcrowding in Mumbai suburban trains be reduced by disciplining citizens? Will this problem be solved if a reputed management institute does a detailed study? These are the questions the Bombay high court posed to the railways on Wednesday and directed it to experiment how proper crowd management can be done to ensure that citizens travel easily during peak hours.

A division bench of justices Naresh Patil and VL Achliya said, "It shouldn't be so that people have to use might and force to be able to enter trains during peak hours. Everyone should feel the comfort;there should be relief."

"Can the crowd be disciplined? For example, at one station you allow entry of a certain number of passengers only... will this work?" the court asked. Additional solicitor general Anil Singh replied, "In Mumbai, it's next to impossible. Every passenger standing on the platform wants to enter the train which comes before him to reach his/her office on time."

The bench then suggested change in office timings, asking whether the 9am to 5pm routine can be done away with. "What if some department begins work after 11am? Can some office work on weekdays and have holiday on weekends? The Dadar market is closed on Mondays. Can similar options be worked out? Would an integrated study by the state, railways, police and other partners (ie private sector) help ease overcrowding?" asked justice Patil.

The court also suggested that the railways consider having one coach reserved for senior citizens. Around 38,000 senior citizens travel daily on suburban trains. The railways has, after court orders, reserved 14 seats in a compartment for the elderly.

Advocate Suresh Kumar informed the court, "Awareness among travellers will be created to ensure that senior citizens are allowed to sit on the seats reserved for them. As earlier only a small area was reserved for the disabled but over time, after nine-coach trains gave way to 12-coach ones, the reservation increased. The same can be done for senior citizens once we get 15-coach trains."

The bench, however, going back to its original issue of overcrowding, said, "During peak hours, can a senior citizen enter the compartment? If not, then how can s/he even be able to reach to his/her seat?"

"Have you tried sideway seating, like in Metro coaches? It allows more passengers to stand. Don't be afraid to experiment because you might fail," the judges added.

The court has given the railways time till June 30 to get back to it on the suggestions made.

The bench gave these ideas while hearing a public interest litigation after the court had taken suo moto cognisance of a letter written by a senior citizen, AB Thakkar, in 2009. Thakkar had said entering a jam-packed train during peak hours was a nightmarish experience for the elderly.

Around 4,000 people die every year on Central Railway, while around 3,500 perish on the Western Railway. Central Railway runs 1,600 services daily.