Commuters had a pleasant surprise waiting for them at Mahalaxmi station this week - no longer would they have to stand in lashing rain or scorching sun while waiting for their train. While the platform rooftops have been removed in order to facilitate the construction of new foot over bridges (FOBs), the Western Railway has hit upon a quick-fix solution - temporary canopies.

A senior divisional official explained that with a large number of footbridges commissioned, the roof of the station has been removed to build foundations, etc. Usually, the roof is put back after the bridge is complete, but the entire process is time-consuming and leads to passenger complaints.