Mumbai Local Train Services Update: WR Plans Safety-Boosting Hoardings On Station Fences

Western Railway (WR) has decided to install hoardings on the fencing between rail tracks at several stations along the Churchgate-Virar route, according to the Hindustan Times (HT) report. This initiative, a first for WR, aims to utilise station space effectively while ensuring safety.

The stations selected include Mumbai Central, Lower Parel, Khar, Andheri, Dadar, Mahalakshmi, Vile Parle, Grant Road, Marine Lines, Mira Road, Santacruz, Borivali, Goregaon, Ram Mandir, Dahisar, Bhayandar, Kandivali, Jogeshwari, Vasai, Naigaon, and Nallasopara.

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This decision follows the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse, a tragic incident that claimed 16 lives and left 74 injured. In response to a Supreme Court order, WR removed five oversized hoardings-two each at Goregaon and Bandra, and one between Mumbai Central and Charni Road. These hoardings, measuring over 40x40 feet, were deemed unsafe. Their removal resulted in a revenue loss of Rs 12 crore, prompting WR to explore new advertising methods.

The upcoming hoardings will be smaller, with sizes ranging from 10 to 30 feet, and will be installed over metal railings. Designed to prevent passengers from jumping over, the hoardings will also serve as a safety measure. Unlike the previous installations, these billboards will not be digital.

"These billboards would be non-digital. Now that our large hoardings are not generating revenue and have been decommissioned for advertising, this is an option we are exploring," said a WR official in the report. "We are identifying new locations as well."

WR has already conducted the first round of tenders for the project. Contracts for these smaller hoardings will be awarded for a three-year period. By utilising smaller advertising spaces, WR aims to generate revenue while adhering to safety and regulatory requirements.