Cuts and bruises await railway commuters at new Kalwa station

The metal sheet on platform no. 2 has sharp edges

Protruding iron rods, sharp metal sheets that could hurt commuters, and a staircase at the end of platforms that forces local train users to cross tracks: these are among a host of safety aspects that the railways needs to fix at the new Kalwa station. During a visit to the station on Wednesday, mid-day found only a handful of commuters using the two-way escalators on platform number 4.

Commuters expressed concerns over the risks posed due to the lapses. "The new platform was built behind the existing one and the barricades put up on platform number 2 have a metal sheet with iron rods. These bent metal sheets can hurt as one walks on platform number 2, which is heavily used for CSMT-bound slow trains," Shraddha Gawli, a commuter, said.

A rod juts out on platform no. 4 at the new Kalwa station

Unmesh Gaikwad, a commuter passing by the stretch, said authorities should at least bend the rods so that they don't injure commuters. "The CSMT end of the platform is narrow where these railings are jutting out," he said.

While the new platform number 3 has stairs to the tracks at either end, they are likely to encourage commuters to trespass on tracks. But the stairs can also be misused by criminals as Kalyan-bound fast trains pass too close from there. "The staircase was built by those constructing the new platform, we remember vividly. They can now be dismantled," said Vivek Dev Joshi, a local resident.

These stairs on platform no. 3 will encourage users to cross tracks

Iron rods also jut out on the CSMT-bound fast platform number 4 near the base of the Mumbra-end foot overbridge. This could potentially leave users injured when the platform is brought to use on Sundays during mega blocks.

mid-day saw only a handful of commuters using the two-way escalators at the Mumbra-end. "No commuter uses the two-way escalators at the new entrance as many are not aware. These are heavily misused by local kids to play. The railways should put up a guard there," Advesh Narkar, a local resident, said.

Central Railway chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar assured that all the problems will be fixed immediately.