Commuters at Andheri railway station could soon get a more direct exit towards Andheri East, with Western Railway proposing a new 12-coach home platform along the sixth track on the northern side of the station.
The proposed platform would introduce a double-discharge arrangement for trains arriving on Platform 9, allowing passengers to alight from both sides of the train. The additional exit is expected to improve passenger dispersal and reduce pressure on the station’s existing foot overbridges (FOBs) and stairways.
Direct Exit Towards Andheri East
Under the proposed arrangement, passengers travelling towards Andheri East Road would be able to leave the station directly from the eastern side of Platform 9. Currently, commuters largely depend on existing pedestrian routes after getting off trains, leading to congestion, particularly during busy periods.
The new platform is intended to spread passenger movement across multiple exits instead of concentrating commuters at a single point.
Andheri is among the busiest stations on the Western Railway network, handling around 4.5 lakh passengers every day, while more than 1,000 suburban train movements take place through the station. Passenger concentrations increase sharply during peak hours whenever trains arrive on busy platforms.
Multiple Platform Works Underway
Several other infrastructure works are also progressing at Andheri station.
Platforms 4 and 5 are being extended towards the south, which is expected to enable trains to reverse towards Virar from Platform 5.
Western Railway is also extending Platform 6 by 20 metres towards the south and Platform 7 by 10 metres towards the north. Alongside this, the S-49 signal is proposed to be shifted southwards.
A new signal is also planned at the northern end of Platform 7. In addition, an emergency crossover between the Harbour Line’s up and down tracks is being constructed. The facility could be used to reverse trains during emergencies or major blocks affecting Harbour Line services.
Aim to Improve Passenger Movement
The double-discharge platform is being planned primarily to improve the way commuters move through the station after trains arrive. By allowing passengers to leave from both sides, the arrangement could reduce the concentration of people on stairs and FOBs.
During rush hours, the sudden influx of passengers from arriving trains often places heavy pressure on existing circulation routes. Creating another direct exit could help distribute the flow more evenly.
For Andheri, the proposed home platform and other ongoing works form part of a broader effort to improve station capacity, operational flexibility and passenger circulation at one of Mumbai’s busiest suburban railway hubs.
Once implemented, the double-discharge facility on Platform 9 could provide commuters with a faster route towards Andheri East while easing congestion on existing pedestrian infrastructure.
Source: Lokmat
