Sion station’s dark stretch gets streetlights after mid-day flags commuter safety concerns

Commuters pass through the dark alley at night

The dark and dangerous stretch along the east side of the Sion railway station was fitted with streetlights after mid-day raised commuters' safety concerns. mid-day had approached the Central Railway for a comment over an inadequately lit approach road that had become a source of anxiety for commuters, with women alleging instances of inappropriate touching and one man recounting how he was robbed of his chain while using the stretch. Acting on the issue raised by this paper, Central Railway promptly acted and got the lights installed.

The stretch near the Sion station in the day

Voices

Roshni Jadhav, staffer at Sion Hospital
‘I avoid walking alone here after dark. I have faced inappropriate touching while passing through the area, and the lack of proper lighting makes me feel helpless. There should be streetlights and regular police patrolling here.'

A woman commuter
‘I was walking towards the station when I suddenly felt someone touch me inappropriately. It happened so quickly that I could not even identify the person. The darkness makes it easier for such people to escape'

CR officials install a streetlight. PICS/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR

Rajesh Shukla, a commuter
‘I was walking towards the station after returning from the office when someone came from behind and snatched my chain. The area was poorly lit, and before I could react, the person had disappeared. Better lighting could make such incidents easier to prevent and investigate'

A regular commuter
‘This is the only access route to the station on the east side, so commuters should not have to worry about their safety simply because they are using it at night. The authorities need to fix the lighting before a serious incident takes place'