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Key Western Railway (WR) stations in south Mumbai – Mumbai Central, Grant Road and Charni Road – will soon be upgraded with sliding gates and beautification works, aimed at making the areas encroachment-free and more passenger-friendly, an official statement, released by the WR said on Monday.

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha met Western Railway General Manager Pradeep Kumar at the Churchgate headquarters to discuss the proposed improvements. Local residents were also present during the meeting, it said.

Lodha highlighted that illegal vendors and unauthorised encroachments have become a problem around south Mumbai stations, causing inconvenience to commuters and pedestrians.

Some of these vendors are reportedly migrants, including Bangladeshi Rohingyas, though this is unconfirmed, the statement said.

Unauthorised hawkers and clear streets

Lodha urged the Western Railway to take immediate action against unauthorised hawkers and clear the streets to ensure smooth movement for passengers and pedestrians.

The minister also pointed out that the bridge connecting Charni Road station to Girgaon is unfinished and requested railway cooperation to complete it. Installing sliding gates at stations was suggested to provide easier access for senior citizens and improve overall security.

Western Railway to prepare detailed report

Pradeep Kumar stated that after understanding the issues, his team has been instructed to prepare a detailed report. Action will be taken based on the report to resolve commuter concerns.

He also confirmed that proposals for station beautification are pending but assured that the areas will soon be cleaned and upgraded.

Local residents, including Kaushik Shah, were present at the meeting and welcomed the initiative.