Railway stations along the Airoli-Belapur corridor in Navi Mumbai are set to undergo development and improvement works, with the Central Railway expected to address long-standing issues related to passenger amenities and station infrastructure.
Thane MP Naresh Mhaske recently raised concerns about the condition of several stations and the difficulties faced by commuters with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Following the meeting, the Railway Minister directed the Central Railway administration to initiate the required development works at the earliest.
The move follows an agreement signed in May 2026 under which the stations between Airoli and Belapur, previously managed by CIDCO, were handed over to the Central Railway. The stations now under Central Railway’s responsibility include Airoli, Rabale, Ghansoli, Koparkhairane, Turbhe, Sanpada, Juinagar, Nerul, Seawoods-Darave and Belapur.
During the discussion, Mhaske highlighted several deficiencies. At Airoli and Rabale, some ticket counters remain non-operational, while toilets require urgent repairs. Damaged flooring and staircases have also created difficulties for commuters. At Ghansoli and Koparkhairane, passengers have reportedly raised concerns over cleanliness around ticketing areas, particularly given the high footfall.
Issues at Turbhe and Sanpada include foul-smelling toilets, inadequate drinking water and insufficient lighting. Meanwhile, footbridges at Juinagar and Nerul require repairs, while a shortage of operational ticket counters has resulted in long queues.
Cleanliness concerns have also been reported at Seawoods-Darave and Belapur stations. Passengers have sought repairs to staircases, footbridges and benches, along with renovated toilets, round-the-clock sanitation and water availability. They have also called for all ticket windows to function regularly and for better illumination, including LED lighting across station premises.
For passenger safety, there has been a demand for increased night-time patrolling by the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF).
Taking note of the concerns, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav directed the Central Railway administration to immediately carry out the necessary development works. The upgrades are expected to improve cleanliness, safety and overall commuter convenience across the Airoli-Belapur railway corridor.
Source: Prahaar
