Hawkers clogging footbridges and ramps, vendors spilling onto platforms, goods piled at exits, and virtually no crowd control, our report showed how Ghatkopar railway station has become a ticking time bomb for commuters. It was once briefly cleared for a VIP visit just a couple of weeks ago. The station has now descended into a dangerous free-for-all, with blocked access points and crush-prone conditions that regulars say could trigger the next big tragedy.

Meetings between senior railway officials and Metro authorities had discussed solutions to decongest the station. Now, local staff appear to have abandoned crowd control altogether. With the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) conducting heavy piling work for a station upgrade, rain soaking the temporary roof, poor lighting, and metro connectivity adding to rush-hour surges, Ghatkopar has become a daily battlefield for passengers.

Railways said they are committed to taking action against unauthorised hawkers and vendors. There are solutions like removing temporary obstructions to free up space. Every station cannot wait for work to be done and then start managing crowds. While upgrading is a must, preparation must be done even before work begins, to ensure commuter convenience and, most importantly, safety.