Name Game at Mumbai Station: ‘Vadala’ or ‘Wadala’? Railways Vows Quick Fix

Mumbai : A case of conflicting station names has stirred confusion and sparked online humour at one of Mumbai’s suburban railway stations. The recently renovated station, upgraded under the Centre’s ‘Amrit Bharat Station Scheme’ and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video link on Thursday, now finds itself in the midst of a spelling controversy — with signboards alternately reading ‘Wadala’ and ‘Vadala’.

The inconsistency quickly caught the attention of daily commuters and social media users. While the entrance signage reads ‘Wadala’, interior boards display ‘Vadala’, prompting bewilderment and amusement alike.

Central Railway officials have acknowledged the error. “Vadala is the correct spelling and steps are being taken to correct the entrance signage,” a senior official said, adding that the issue likely arose from a lack of coordination during the renovation process.

The signage slip-up has generated a wave of reactions online. “Looks like two different contractors worked on this without speaking to each other,” joked one user. Another long-time Mumbaikar commented, “I’ve always known it as Wadala for 40 years — Vadala looks like a modern twist.”

Regular commuter Kartik Nadar noted that the confusion is not new. “This inconsistency has existed for years,” he said, hinting that the recent refurbishment only brought an old issue to the surface.

In response to the growing chatter, the Division Railway Manager of Mumbai Division has directed the Senior Divisional Engineer (Coordination) to resolve the matter swiftly. Central Railway has assured commuters that the signage will be rectified at the earliest to ensure consistency and clarity.

The episode has once again highlighted the importance of precision and attention to detail in public infrastructure projects — especially those launched with national visibility.