Watch video: Sex trade thrives on Mumbai railway station platforms

Its a weeknight and the clock on platform No 1 and 2 of Santacruz Railway Station reads 1130 pm Yoursquod expect the buzz at the station to have died down a notch Not so for a group of women who have been standing at the skywalk that connects the station to S V Road They start walking down to the platform And when a train from Churchgate heading to Vasai chugs in they donrsquot hop on They wait for the commuters and start soliciting them for sexCommercial sex workers at the Santacruz platform near the police booth PicSatyajit DesaiMumbai has got used to spotting commercial sex workers on its roads You will find them pimps in tow on beaches skywalks and arterial roads of localities such as Andheri and Bandra near dawn Tourist spots like Juhu Chowpatty and Colaba Causeway are popular haunts as is Bandra Linking Road The group will disperse the second a police van is spotted Which is why spotting them on railway platforms which are under constant CCTV surveillance and secured by the Railway Police Force RPF and the Government Railway Police GRP mdash was startling What is of further concern is that not only were the RPF and GRP personnel present on the platforms they were also seen interacting with the women The reporters discovered that therersquos a systematic network in place to keep the operations running smoothly Besides a group of about seven sex workers lsquosupport staffrsquo tends to hang around the station keeping a watch out for anyone who might pose a threat If someone is spotted with a camera or video phone word spreads and the group swiftly dispersesAdditionally auto rickshaws are roped in to provide a quick transport facility Drivers wait outside the station to take customers to lodges where a deal has already been struck A commuter who travels the route daily said the rickshaw driver not only carries out the task of ferrying but also ensures the safety and timely return of the sex worker ldquoThe drivers are paid per round trip or a night charge according to the business done on a particular night They also act as bodyguards if a customers harasses the sex workerrdquo he said requesting anonymitySantacruz Railway Station July 15 2015 Platform No 1 and 2 Time 1135 pmAs soon as the clock strikes 1130 pm a commuter who travels on the route daily tells us sex workers aged 20 to 40 pour on to the platform from the skywalk and foot overbridge When sunday midday visited the spot at 1145 pm nine women outside the ticket window of platform No 1 western side were seenThis platform is connected to the Santacruz W skywalk making it easier for the group to disperse if a complainant forces the RPF or GRP personnel to act Since the skywalk doesnrsquot fall under Railway jurisdiction no action can be taken by the railway police A visit to the spot the previous night revealed that there was little chance that railway personnel did not know of the workersrsquo presence That night a group of men were harassing some of the women who later complained to GRP officials The officials warned off the men By this time it was 130 am and the two women took a ChurchgateBorivali train back On Wednesday the reporters posed as customers to inquire about the business This is how the conversation unfoldedSMD How much will the one in the pink chargeSex worker Rs 1500SMD Where will the room beSex worker Itrsquos nearbySMD In the marketSex worker YesVasai Railway Station July 16 2015 Platform No 1 Time 1215 amThere were more than 10 sex workers on the southern end of the platformSex workers at the Santacruz railway bridge PicAtul KambleSMD How much do you chargeSex worker Rs 1000SMD Where will we goSex worker To a hotelSMD Police ka locha toh nahin hai nahSex worker NahinSMD How far is itSex worker Five minutesSMD Can you charge lessSex worker No We keep Rs 500 and the hotel takes Rs 500 Here after 11 pm the hotels shut shop Earlier their rate was Rs 300 now itrsquos been hiked Will both of you goSMD Yes both of usSex worker It is Rs 1000 eachSMD Koi problem hoga kyaSex worker Nahin mera toh roj ka dhanda haiSMD We will return in a bitSex worker Jaldi anekaWhen sunday midday returned to the platform we found the sex workers sitting a few meters away from the desk where GRP officers were on duty The conversation continued with a different sex workerSMD How much do you chargeSex worker She told you Rs 1000SMD Dono ka final boloSex worker Arre yaar Dono ka Rs 1000 bhada jayegaSMD Till when are you hereSex worker Once I leave with you I will head homeSMD Wersquoll get back to you in five minutesRAILWAYS CLAIMS IGNORANCEI donrsquot know if what you are claiming is correct I will have to check with my local subordinates to establish the authenticity of your investigation If any such activity is going on at the station it is the responsibility of the GRP to investigate and take action RPF will provide assistance but GRP needs to actndash Udai Shukhla Chief Security Commissioner Western Railway