Mumbai: GRP accuses CR of ignoring pleas to hand over building at Dadar station

The existing police station on platform 9A of Dadar railway station

A new police station building at Dadar station is almost ready, but the Government Railway Police (GRP) is waiting for a handover of the structure from Central Railway (CR). Once done, it will pave the way for open space for commuters at the station. Inside the building are half-completed rooms and cabins, and tiles lying scattered with approaches inaccessible for now.

"There had been umpteen follow-ups for a handover so that we could inaugurate the building in January, then April and even now. But every time we approach CR, we are pointed towards a new department. The building is ready, but being a police station, certain infrastructure has to be in place to start with. We understand how the relocation of the old police station will help improve the station and reduce congestion. We appeal to Railways to complete and hand over the building to us as soon as possible," Ravindra Shisve, commissioner, Government Railway Police, Mumbai, said.

The new building, which is situated above the station master's office. Pics/Rajendra B. Aklekar

The problem

The existing huge police station building on the platform has been leading to massive congestion. After years of planning, the new building is now ready to free up Dadar station platform. The existing Dadar railway police station on platform 9A not only occupies much space, but also narrows down the platform significantly.

The new building

Situated above the station master's office, the new building overlooks the main circle opposite Swaminarayan Mandir and has access to the main road. But work is being done on most of the entrance points and rooms inside or the past six months. "It does not take so much time to get a building structure ready. We have been following up on the matter for quite some time," an official said.

Present status

Work has started on the roof of the old police station to dismantle older booking offices and rooms to make way for the removal of the old deck, as per the plan.

What is the plan

At present, Dadar's platform number 9 ends abruptly in towards the direction of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, with the GRP station, followed by a toilet block, a few old debris dumped and a small garden. The new plan includes relocation of the police station, removal of the toilets, clearing the space, connecting the platform and widening it.

This will create a seamless, spacious platform 9, over which there will be an elevated deck. Following a series of articles by mid-day on how the railway police had been struggling to manage the crowd at slow line platforms at Dadar station, CR's Mumbai former divisional railway manager (DRM) Rajneesh Goyal had promised to not just widen platform but also drawn up a master plan of the station to create more space for passengers.

A Central Railway spokesperson said the work was in the completion stages and would be handed over to the GRP by May 20. "The shifting of the GRP office is part of the process to move various offices on platform 9-9A. The area of the existing police station, including a mezzanine floor and small room, is 464 square metres. The newly constructed office has the same area. The cost of the new building is R1.20 crore.

The civil work is completed, and electrical work is in progress. After dismantling the GRP office, the platform area will be decongested, allowing for the construction of stairs, the extension of a foot overbridge and the replacement of a ramp with an escalator. These works will be done in due course," the spokesperson told mid-day.

Commuters speak

"The relocation of the police station from platform 9 is needed. For years, commuters have struggled with severe overcrowding on this platform, and several accidents have occurred as a result. As a social activist, I believe this move will finally bring relief to daily passengers, improving both safety and accessibility. Public infrastructure must evolve to meet the needs of the people, and this is a step long overdue," Chetan Kamble of ChakaChak Dadar said.

"Railways should expedite the construction of the police station building so that future works can continue at a quick pace. The expansion of the packed Dadar station will lead to its decongestion," passenger activist Arvind Marje said.