Kurla Station: Debris On Platform, Hawkers Illegally Park Vehicles And Occupy Area

Despite a special visit by Central Railway (CR) General Manager Ram Karan Yadav two weeks ago, the Kurla suburban station is still in disarray. Every day, nearly five lakh commuters pass through the station, but finding your way around remains difficult. Zonal general managers of railways are India’s highest bureaucrats and special secretary-level personnel. However, despite the presence of such a high-ranking person, not even the fundamentals are in place, with debris lying around, general squalor, and no evident changes to the station.

Mid Day reported that sacks of garbage were lying on various platforms, and commuters continued to have limited access to the east and west. Platforms 3-4 were impossible to walk on because of the debris. On February 8, Yadav undertook a special inspection of Kurla Station, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, and Kurla Car Shed. 

Debris litters the east side, with the railway area not delineated or secured, and a staircase closed, is confusing everyone. Debris, illegal vehicles, and hawkers have taken over the circulating area near the ticket office, escalator, and tube entrance/exit. The skywalk to the east, nearing the level crossing gate that leads to LTT station, is crowded with trespassers and replete with illegal activities that endanger public safety.

Metal sheets have blocked the western entry/exit point to the electric bike stand. The station’s main entrance/exit is also partially closed and crowded with hawkers. Ironically, both the east and west sides have staffed Railway Protection Force (RPF) offices. Unused escalator pieces have been lying on the west entry side for the past two years. Defunct ATVM machines, debris sacks, and plastic bottle crushers occupy space on the small platform 1A.