Mumbai: Confusion at Borivli station over essential tag as many barred entry

Security personnel check passengers’ identity cards at Borivli railway station entrance on Friday. Pic/Satej Shinde

As the new curbs on movement across the state came into force on Friday, a lot of confusion was seen at suburban railway stations as many people were barred from entering. While the crowd has reduced considerably, lack of clarity regarding who would be allowed under the essential services category, created commuting problems for many.

While those working in the medical and pharmaceuticals industry are ideally considered as essential service workers, some delivery agents working in the same field were denied entry at stations. One such worker, Umesh Hasnabadi was stopped by a homeguard at Borivli station, as he did not have a valid identity card.

"I work for a company which deals in medical equipment. I got confused when they stopped me because I had come to Borivli to drop a product. However, later I was allowed," said Umesh, who spoke to mid-day while he was returning to his office in Malad post delivery.

Like Umesh, several others faced similar problems at Borivli station, and were later seen trying to catch a bus or making frantic calls to their respective offices to resolve the issue.

Nilesh Punde, an Air India employee, was not allowed to enter the station even after he showed his identity card. "Last year when the trains were running, Air India employees were allowed under the essential workers category. Now I don't understand why we have been excluded," shared Nilesh, adding that he informed his superior regarding the same and was told that several others from the company faced similar issues.

He further said, "They are now working on an official communication with the railways to resolve the confusion. We might again require those bar-coded railway passes to avoid such situations."

Multiple exits at railway stations were found to be closed on Friday. At several stations like Borivli, Dahisar and Kandivli, just one entry and exit point was open for use. One each on the eastern and western sides of the stations was open and railway security forces were keeping a constant vigil.

Homeguard Vishal Dudya, on duty at Borivli station, said, "The crowd has reduced considerably. People are mostly aware whether they are allowed on trains. We are checking every passenger's identity card at the time of entry."