Central Railways refers to midday's 10-part safety audit to fix its stations

One of the issues highlighted was how ATMs were blocking entry-exit points at Wadala Road station

Getting on the train during peak hours will no longer be an obstacle race, now that Central Railway (CR) has started to clear out the various shops and installations that were a hindrance to passenger movement on station platforms. This was a major problem highlighted in mid-day's safety audit series on railway stations, which CR authorities are now acting on.

For instance, this paper had highlighted how ATM machines were blocking entry and exit points at Vadala Road station. It's a similar story with abandoned water vending machines, stalls, tea kiosks and canteens across several stations. Divisional officials said a number of things listed in mid-day's audit had been picked up and removed from station platforms. Stalls and water vending machines at Thakurli, milk stall at Kasara, ATM kiosks at Vadala Road and GTB Nagar have been relocated to more convenient spots at the stations.

Tea stalls at Atgaon, Khardi, Byculla have also been removed and 23 weighing machines have been removed from platforms at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Kurla, Ghatkopar, Neral, Parel and Sion stations to facilitate passenger movement. These stalls were hindering passenger movement on the narrow platforms. Officials said that these actions are being taken as per the recommendations of the multi-disciplinary teams that were formed after the Elphinstone station stampede.

Sunil Udasi, CR's chief public relations officer, said, "The unnecessary stalls and installations lying on railway platforms have been cleared, and the stations and railway premises have been made clutter-free. Our multi-disciplinary teams conducted an audit to list the things that were hindering movement. The aim is to make passenger movement easier and faster at railway stations, without any hindrance."

In a multi-part series of all the three railway lines in the city - CR's main line and harbour line, as well as Western Railway - this reporter visited and reviewed the stations during peak hours. The Western Railway had already initiated action earlier.

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