Lack of crowd management, clear announcements, proper signage and staff presence has Virar residents up in arms; officials said they will fix the crowd management issue and explained that things will be much easier once work is complete
The station is burdened with heavy crowds. Officials said they will fix the crowd management issue and explained that things will be much easier once work is complete
Commuters at the extremely crowded Virar station, which is in the middle of a makeover, have complained of inconvenience. The station is being remodelled to make it seamless as a part of the Virar-Dahanu quadrupling project. “They talk about modernisation, but right now, it’s total chaos. With barricades and shifting entry points, elderly passengers and women are struggling the most. There is no crowd management at all,” Sunita More college lecturer, Nalasopara.
“Peak hours are a nightmare. One delayed train and the entire station freezes. If this is planned redevelopment, then commuters deserve better planning and temporary arrangements,” Akash Jadhav, private-sector employee, Palghar. “We understand development is necessary, but why should commuters suffer daily? Clear announcements, proper signage and staff presence are the bare minimum—and even that is missing,” Shabnam Khan, shop employee, Virar East.
Officials said they will fix the crowd management issue and explained that things will be much easier once work is complete. It is being done in a phase wise manner to minimise inconvenience. “The remodelling of Virar station has been planned to ease congestion and accommodate 15-coach trains on the Virar–Dahanu route. Key improvements include construction of a new Platform 5A, expansion of platforms 3A/4A, and improved infrastructure to boost capacity by 25 per cent” an official said.
The construction of a new home platform (5A) and additional platforms on the south and east sides of the station is also planned. “Among the other key works include widening of platform 3A which is being widened to 10 meters from the existing 6m with a feature of a double-discharge facility on the west side to handle higher commuter volume, along with a home platform.
There are upgrades focusing on enabling 15-car suburban trains to operate on the Virar–Dahanu corridor and the station modernisation also includes a new station deck for better passenger movement. The overall projected benefits include increased capacity for suburban trains and reduced crowding,” an official said.
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