A family with a child in their arms, crossing the railway tracks. Somewhere a few girls crossing the railway lines and unable to climb the platform on the other end, numerous other commuters resorting to cross the railway lines amidst the rush of other commuters waiting for their train – is the common scene at Badlapur railway station.
Badlapur station does not have adequate number of foot over bridges (FOB) even as the number of the passengers at this station has seen a sudden rise as over the past few years, Badlapur has emerged as a hub for affordable housing and have become one of the fastest growing areas in the outskirts of Mumbai.
There are only two FOB which cover the middle and the Ambernath end of platform, but not the opposite end. This leads to congestion on the Ambernath-end FOB as it is narrow, ultimately leading remainder of people to resort to risk their lives by crossing the railway lines, at times even as a short cut. There is some fencing put up by the railways but that does not deter the trespassing.
Passengers complain that platform itself is not at par with the other suburban platforms with the roofing being incompletely installed at much of its portion and almost three bogies of each local train get no cover at all leaving the commuters exposed to elements like rains. Wherever there is roofing, it is still not up to the mark, locals say.
Sources claimed that the platform number 1 is built in such a way that a train halting there, blocks any further usage of the railway route 'UP' or 'DOWN', which means there can be no trains on platform number 2 at the same time, this is a severe planning error. The old platform (which now is platform 3) was not built this way and did not obstruct rail traffic as Badlapur trains too, went towards Wangani for changeover.
There is also a home platform planned here for which the foundation ceremony too was held. However, the shopkeepers whose shops were demolished to make way for new platform resorted to the court with demands that they be given fair compensation or a different space be allocated to them for setting up their shops. And there is a stay order for the construction of the platform.
“Shopkeepers want new space and in a few days we shall resolve this matter,” says Rajan Ghorpade, Corporator, BJP. “As early as possible, this problem should be resolved and we are eagerly waiting for home platform for benefits of commuters of east and west side. We also demand public toilets on platform number 1 and 2, for which the railways has stated there is no space as the platforms here are narrow. After completion of home platform the congestion will be relieved to an extent, and even there will be less rush on Ambernath end-FOB”, says Sanjay Mestri, member of the Suburban Railway Commuter Forum.
“The concerned land was responsibility of Badlapur Nagar Parishad who allocated it for the said usage. Home platform work is already sanctioned and will commence as soon as formalities are completed,” said Anil Kumar Patke, PRO of MRVC.