Demand for new upgraded indicators to aid commuters

Daily commuters at Kharghar Railway Station are expressing frustration over the lack of functional facilities, particularly with the non-functional train indicator on the platform heading towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). This issue is further exacerbated by the absence of audio announcements, leaving passengers stranded and confused about train schedules.

Kharghar Civic, which raises issues in and around Kharghar, highlighted this issue faced by daily commuters on X. They said, “There is only 1 indicator on Kharghar Railway Station to indicate trains going towards CSMT and even that indicator is non-functional, plus no announcements are being made regularly either.”

Local passengers have taken to social media to voice their grievances, tagging railway authorities, including @drmmumbaicr, @CIDCO_Ltd, and @RailMinIndia, seeking immediate action

As shown in the shared image, the single train indicator meant to display real-time updates for the CSMT-bound trains remains non-operational.

Raxit Desai, a resident of Kharghar, Sector 7 who works at an office in Fort, Mumbai said, “The lack of proper train updates poses significant challenges, especially during peak hours, as thousands of commuters rely on timely information to plan their journeys. While the station infrastructure is relatively modern, the lack of basic amenities like working indicators and audio announcements undermines its usability.”

Passengers also pointed out the need for better communication and maintenance from authorities to ensure smooth travel.

Kavita Rao, a commuter who lives near Shilp Chowk, Kharghar said, “The absence of announcements means that many are forced to approach station staff or depend on mobile apps like M-Indicator, Yatri and others which may not always provide accurate real-time updates, and which are not available to people who do not use smartphones or school and college children who do not have phones yet.”

This issue comes amid broader complaints about the state of amenities within the station. While Kharghar has seen rapid urban development, the current shortcomings in station facilities raise questions about the preparedness to handle the growing commuter population.