Narrow escalators widen Thane commuters’ woes during monsoon

The second Thane escalator was inaugurated on Independence Day but many commuters still seem to be hesitant about using it. The Central Railway (CR) had already installed first escalator between platfor m number 4 and 5 in the last week of June. Even though the commuters are used to the system by now, the new escalator between platfor m number 5 and 6 hardly appears to be used.

When FPJ asked a commuter, Anand Mehta (31), a banker who stood gawking at the escalator as to why he wasn’t taking the escalator, he said, “There is nothing unique about it anymore; in fact I think it is more risky then regular stairs, your shoelace have a tendency to get stuck in the escalator and to add to the chaos the rains worsen the

“Its not that it doesn’t help me but during rush hours such a small escalator where only two people can stand at a time doesn’t seem to make sense.” - FREQUENT COMMUTER.

matters.”

Another commuter Ninad Tilwalkar (42), who had come to visit his sister from Vikhroli said, “I prefer the regular stairs, we hardly get any exercise due to the city’s busy lifestyle. Once in office we just sit and then back to catch the train so at least we took the stairs, I feel there many other issues that can be taken care of like the toilets instead the escalators.”

Although many youth and specially senior citizens were found taking the escalator, they too said that the escalator just made it more difficult during rush hours.

Aradhna Joshi (60) who lives in Thane and was traveling with her family to Dadar said, “Its not that it doesn’t help me but during rush hours such a small escalator where only two people can stand at a time doesn’t seem to make sense.” There is a feeling amongst railway officials that there are always positive as well as negative reactions to anything new and therefore have decided to take these reactions with a pinch of salt.

Although this might be true the question remains that railways could not put in wider escalators as the breath of the platfor ms is too narrow and with the footfall of the Thane increasing every year one has to wonder what the railways has planned next.