Western Railway News | Access to Railway Stations to Be Restricted – Metro-Like System Proposed

Currently, anyone can easily enter railway stations. However, this is set to change. Western Railway has proposed the implementation of a metro-style access control system at key stations. This means that only passengers with valid tickets, scanned at the entry point, will be allowed inside the station premises.

Which Mumbai Stations Are Included?

The proposed list includes major Mumbai stations like Borivali, Andheri, and Bandra Terminus.

• Borivali and Bandra Terminus serve as important halts for trains traveling to and from Gujarat.
• Andheri is a key hub on Mumbai’s Western Railway line and offers interchange with metro services.

Which Stations in Gujarat Are Part of the Proposal?

In Gujarat, the list includes:

• Ahmedabad (Kalupur), Asarwa, Sabarmati
• Vadodara, Surat, Vapi, Udhna

Additionally, Ujjain station in Madhya Pradesh has also been suggested for the system.

This move is part of a broader station redevelopment initiative underway across India. The goal is to replace the current open-access model with a controlled-entry system to improve passenger safety and crowd management.

Why the Change?

Stations like Udhna have witnessed crowd-related stampedes in the past. Limiting entry to only confirmed ticket holders aims to reduce such risks.
A railway official stated that this initiative is still in its early stages. So far, only a list of proposed stations has been sent to the Railway Board. If approved, infrastructure changes such as defining entry and exit points and installing ticket scanners will follow.

Expected Benefits

• Controlled access will help reduce platform overcrowding.
• Only ticketed passengers will be allowed inside, improving overall safety and hygiene.
• Once implemented, the system will eliminate the need for temporary bans on platform ticket sales, which are currently imposed during peak travel periods or crowd surges.