Mumbai’s Western Railway network is set to undergo temporary access changes at two key suburban stations as part of ongoing station modernisation works, highlighting the balancing act between infrastructure upgrades and commuter convenience in one of India’s busiest urban rail corridors.
From December 29, selected staircases on foot over bridges at Kandivali and Vasai Road stations will be closed to facilitate station improvement works, according to officials from Western Railway. While alternative access routes have been provided, the changes come at a time when the suburban network is already under pressure due to large-scale capacity expansion works between Kandivali and Borivali. At Kandivali station, commuters using Platform 1 will see the south-side staircase of the second north-most foot over bridge temporarily shut. Railway officials said passengers will be diverted to a newly constructed staircase on the north side of the same bridge, designed to maintain pedestrian flow without reducing access width. The platform itself will remain fully operational during the works.
A similar arrangement has been made at Vasai Road station, where the south staircase of the third north-most foot over bridge connecting Platforms 6 and 7 will be inaccessible. In its place, a newly built staircase and an elevated deck spanning around 60 metres will handle passenger movement. Officials said the additional deck space is intended to ease crowding and improve circulation during peak hours. Railway authorities described the closures as a short-term inconvenience tied to longer-term station upgrades aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and passenger capacity. “These works are part of a wider effort to modernise stations to meet rising ridership while improving walkability and passenger experience,” an official said.
However, the timing coincides with a challenging phase for daily commuters on the Western Line. The Kandivali–Borivali section is currently under a prolonged traffic block linked to the final stage of construction on the sixth railway line between Bandra Terminus and Borivali. Over a three-day period in late December, hundreds of suburban services were cancelled, forcing overcrowding on remaining trains and longer travel times. Urban transport experts note that while such disruptions are disruptive in the short term, they are critical for expanding rail capacity in a city striving to reduce its dependence on private vehicles. Mumbai’s suburban rail system remains the backbone of low-carbon urban mobility, moving millions daily with far lower per-capita emissions than road-based transport.
As station upgrades and line expansions continue, planners stress the importance of clear communication, universal design, and phased execution to ensure that infrastructure renewal supports a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable city. For commuters, the coming weeks may require patience—but the long-term promise is a safer and more resilient urban transport network.
Western Railway To Close FOB Staircases At Kandivali And Vasai From Dec 29
