Western Railway is set to introduce a metro-style entry and exit system at 12 key stations in Mumbai and Gujarat.
The pilot initiative is part of Indian Railways’ broader vision to upgrade passenger experience, boost commuter safety, and lay the groundwork for sustainable urban transit systems.Among the 12 stations selected for the pilot are Mumbai’s high-density stops such as Andheri, Borivali, and Bandra Terminus—each handling tens of thousands of daily commuters. This marks a significant shift from the traditional open-access model that Mumbai’s suburban train users have been familiar with for over a century.
The decision comes at a time when the ageing infrastructure of the Mumbai suburban rail network, which has served the city for over 150 years, is showing signs of strain under rising footfall and mounting security concerns. The proposed changes aim to bring order to an often chaotic commuting environment, reduce fare evasion, and align the local railways with global standards of urban mobility.
The new system will regulate platform access through designated entry and exit gates, where ticket validation and security checks will be mandatory—similar to the practices followed by metro networks. Unrestricted entry to platforms, which has long led to crowding, evasive travel, and security vulnerabilities, will be systematically curtailed under this plan.
To enable the new flow of movement, elevated concourse decks are being constructed at selected stations in Mumbai. These multi-functional decks will host ticket counters, security screening zones, and turnstile-based entry points, offering commuters a streamlined and more predictable travel experience.Railway officials believe this infrastructure overhaul is not only timely but essential. “This isn’t just about crowd control,” said a senior railway planner familiar with the project. “It’s about modernising a legacy system to serve the demands of a 21st-century city in a climate-sensitive and commuter-friendly way.”
The metro-style access system is expected to significantly reduce congestion, enhance safety for women and senior citizens, and encourage lawful commuting habits—all key tenets of equitable and sustainable urban development. Moreover, by reducing the operational burden caused by fare dodgers and unmanaged crowds, railway staff can better focus on service delivery and station maintenance.
This pilot is also expected to act as a replicable model for similar interventions across India’s vast railway network. As cities expand and their transit needs become more complex, the case for smart, structured, and environmentally conscious transport infrastructure becomes ever more compelling.
While passenger adaptation may take time, with some initial resistance likely from long-time users of the system, the long-term gains—from reduced bottlenecks to improved safety—are expected to outweigh the inconvenience of the transition.
For Mumbai, a city that thrives on movement, this shift may well signal the dawn of a new era in public transport—one that embraces technology, respects the commuter, and honours its role in shaping a carbon-resilient future.
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