Two passengers were injured after a section of the ceiling collapsed near the booking hall entrance at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) on Thursday night, raising concerns about passenger safety amid ongoing redevelopment work at the historic railway station.
The incident occurred at approximately 10.05 pm, with the affected section reportedly forming part of the redevelopment project being undertaken by the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA).
The injured passengers were identified as Vinayak Balu Hatkar, 28, and Ayan Naushad Matwankar, 24. Both were taken to St George’s Hospital for medical treatment.
“Both were taken to St George’s Hospital, where they were being treated in the casualty department. Further investigations and clinical assessments were underway,” said a Central Railway (CR) official.
Hatkar sustained a 3–4 cm cut on the right side of his scalp, in the parietal region. Doctors sutured the wound at the hospital. Matwankar suffered an injury to his left upper eyelid, along with abrasions on his right shoulder blade and neck. He also reported pain and swelling in his right ankle.
The incident has drawn attention to safety arrangements at CSMT while construction and improvement work continues at the station. Authorities had yet to clarify the condition of the affected area or whether access restrictions would be introduced near the booking hall entrance.
CSMT is among Mumbai’s busiest railway stations and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The station serves approximately 600,000 to 800,000 suburban and long-distance passengers every day, making passenger safety a significant concern during infrastructure upgrades.
The redevelopment project is intended to modernise station facilities, improve passenger amenities and upgrade existing infrastructure to provide a better travel experience. However, Thursday night’s ceiling collapse has raised questions about safety precautions around areas where redevelopment activities are underway.
Further details regarding the cause of the collapse and any additional safety measures had not been confirmed at the time of reporting.
Source: Hindustan Times
