Mumbai: As Central Railway pushes forward with a plan to stagger office timings in Mumbai to ease overcrowding in suburban trains, the city’s iconic dabbawalas have voiced strong concerns over the potential disruption this could cause to their operations.
In a written statement released on Tuesday, the dabbawalas—renowned globally for their efficient delivery of home-cooked meals to thousands of office-goers daily—urged authorities and employers to ensure that lunch hours remain uniform across the city, even if office timings are adjusted.
“Change office timings if needed, but please do not alter lunch hours,” the statement read. “If lunch times are staggered across offices, our delivery system will be thrown off balance. We won’t be able to ensure timely delivery for all.”
The dabbawalas explained that their logistics model is based on fixed, synchronized schedules that allow them to deliver meals across Mumbai with near-perfect accuracy. Any variation in lunch breaks would severely hamper their ability to operate efficiently.
The Central Railway had sent letters to more than 800 government and private organizations in Mumbai, appealing for a change in office timings to reduce congestion during morning and evening rush hours on the local train network. The proposal also included a request to the Maharashtra state government to help coordinate the staggered office schedules for better implementation.
While the move has been welcomed as a step toward easing daily commuter woes, the dabbawalas’ plea highlights the delicate balance that exists between Mumbai’s public transport infrastructure and its hyper-efficient lunch delivery system.
“Our service is not just a job—it’s a tradition and a lifeline for thousands of working professionals,” the statement concluded. “We respectfully request the authorities to preserve the uniformity of lunch timings, even as other changes are introduced.”
