Chaos at Badlapur Station: Platform Barricading Sparks Daily Struggles, Commuters Demand Urgent Action

Badlapur : What was once a relatively smooth daily commute has turned into a distressing ordeal for thousands of Badlapur residents, following the sudden barricading of platform no. 1 by the Central Railway earlier this week. The move has led to overcrowding, safety hazards, and mounting frustration among daily passengers, particularly during peak hours.

The decision to cordon off platform no. 1—reportedly to expedite the installation of lifts, escalators, and a new staircase—has left commuters to rely solely on the newly constructed platform 1A, which is ill-equipped to handle the rush. The result: a near-stampede scenario on most mornings and evenings.

“Earlier, having access to board trains from both sides helped ease crowd pressure significantly. Now, with everyone forced onto a single platform, train boarding has become a panic-driven, unsafe experience,” said Juili Shirwadkar, a regular commuter on the 6:52 am CSMT fast local.

The issues at platform 1A are many: incomplete construction, broken tiles, debris left unattended for over a year, and a dangerously wide gap between the train footboard and the platform edge—all of which pose serious safety risks.

Prashant Waygankar, another daily office-goer, shared his concern: “It’s terrifying. The crowd in the evening is uncontrollable. Once the train halts at Badlapur, passengers are literally pushed out onto the platform, and with everyone deboarding on the same side, we’re seeing stampede-like situations almost every day.”

Local residents also pointed out that while work on the station has been going on for over two years, the lack of urgency has now begun to take a toll on the public. “If the work had been completed on time, there would be no need to barricade the platform now. Instead, we’re forced to risk our safety every day,” a commuter said.

Meanwhile, Central Railway officials have defended the barricading, stating that it was a necessary step to complete the long-pending infrastructure upgrades. However, commuters insist that the core problem—lack of sufficient train services during peak hours—remains unaddressed.

“Badlapur has become a major residential hub, and the existing train frequency just doesn’t meet the growing demand. Increasing the number of trains is the first and most urgent step to alleviate the overcrowding,” said another daily passenger.

As the situation grows increasingly tense, commuters have called for immediate intervention by railway authorities to either reopen the barricaded platform or significantly ramp up train services. Until then, the daily struggle continues—both mental and physical—for thousands who rely on the Badlapur local trains for their livelihood.