Inconvenience looms for Mumbaikars as railway stations undergo Amrit Bharat scheme overhaul

At a time when Mumbaikars are already dealing with dug-up roads, barricades, pits and dust, railway stations that were once clean and pit-free have now joined the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) bandwagon, potentially inconveniencing commuters and raking up a huge expenditure. While many of the upgrade and capacity-building works undertaken by Central Railway (CR) at the stations listed under the ABSS have been appreciated and helpful for passengers as they add value, a number of unnecessary works such as removing and redoing perfectly fine tiles and covering plaques dating to 1921 have been a matter of concern.

What is the ABSS?

The scheme is a "visionary initiative" brought to life under which 1,309 railway stations across the nation will be revitalised and transformed into world-class terminals with modern amenities, breathing new life into travel hubs and enhancing the overall passenger experience so that even a common passenger experiences a comfortable, convenient and enjoyable rail journey. The scheme envisages the development of stations continuously with a long-term vision. In this year's budget, Maharashtra has got a record allocation of Rs 15,554 crore and 56 stations have been planned to be developed. Of these, 12 on CR Mumbai division are now being spruced up.

A dug-up platform at Matunga station

Key criteria

As per a Station Directorate and Transformation circular, station upgrades under the ABSS include improvement of its building to provide an iconic structure with state-of-the-art facilities and futuristic design, integration with both sides of the city, segregation of arrival and departure, upgradation of connectivity for smooth traffic flow in coordination with local bodies and having pedestrian paths, cycle paths, skywalks and bridges. It also includes creating well-designed spaces inside stations, full-length covered platforms and providing roof plazas/concourses.

What's wrong

Perfectly fine stations dug up at stations like Kanjurmarg, Chinchpokli, Matunga, Vidyavihar, was there a need to remove and replace the tiling when the flooring was nice? Vikhroli station, where work has begun all over again, had just been upgraded under Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation's Station Redevelopment Scheme. The station resembles a battleground with pits and levelling for flooring work. Byculla station, which was recently gloriously restored, has been dug up again!

Matunga fast platform

Work is also on steadily at slow and fast platforms at Matunga. While the existing levelled tiles on Matunga's slow platforms are being removed to be replaced by new ones, the fast train platform is not used by a single passenger local train or express train throughout the day, except as a halt for a workmen special local train service.

Smooth tiles at Vikhroli station, which commuters fear, may cause mishaps during monsoon

Heritage plaques hidden

The 1921-era heritage plaques at Sandhurst Road elevated station, which CR used to take pride in and flaunt till recently, are suddenly being covered up with decorated plywood and sheets for aesthetic reasons. CR, despite being the country's pioneering railway, has always been ignorant about its national railway heritage and pride.

Digging and dust everywhere

Scenes of digging, dust and chaos play out at all stations where work is on. Heaps of tiles and construction machinery have been put up on narrow island platforms. Commuters complained that at many stations, work is on at the edge of platforms and passengers have to jump and hop while stepping out of local trains, which halt no more than 30 seconds. This has also become a safety issue.

Shiny and slippery

Many of the new tiles being set are slippery. Given the government's focus on aesthetics, the new tiles (kota and granite) are shinier and more attractive, but commuters fear that these will prove to be slipperier than ever in the monsoon season, which is just two months away. There have been concerns about such tiles where commuters have complained of skidding and falling.

Kanjurmarg station, once pit-free, has been dug up for no good reason; (right) Sandhurst Road station whose century-old plaques have been covered up

Works that add value

Byculla: A new west side entry gate, public toilets on all platforms and a multi-storey parking facility are being built.

Chinchpokli: All drinking water fountains on platforms are being repaired, additional drains are being provided and a sewage treatment plant connection is being set up.

Wadala Road: A new gate, booking counter and more ATVM machines have been planned.

Matunga: The footpath is being improved and an artistic compound wall and landscaping of the circulation area are being planned.

Kurla: The booking office is being repaired, more public space is being created and a new main entry/exit gate is being built on the east side.

Vidyavihar: A six-metre-wide foot overbridge at CSMT-end is in the works, the circulating area is being improved and additional escalators are being installed.

Mumbra: A drinking water fountain is to come up and a station upgrade is underway.

Diva: A new 12-metre-wide foot overbridge at CSMT-end and a new booking office are planned on the east side.

Shahad: A new skywalk, paved parking space and new toilet blocks on platform 2 are in the works.

Titwala: A 12-metre FOB is planned while all platforms' height will be raised by 150 mm. New toilet blocks will be built.

Igatpuri: The boundary wall in the circulating area and booking office will be improved.

Official view

Railway officials said that the stations had been carefully selected based on high footfall and the scheme calls for a comprehensive upgrade, including improving flooring. A station cannot be developed partially under ABSS as it has to follow all the standard criteria. "Most of the platform work will be complete and they will be levelled before the monsoon sets in and commuters will face no inconvenience," an official said. Rejecting claims of slippery tiles, officials said that all the tiles and flooring at the station follow prescribed specifications.

1,309
No of stations to be revitalised under ABSS