Nerul: Ageing infrastructure and lack of maintenance and upkeep have made Nerul railway station into a shabby facility with commuters left with no choice but to ignore and suffer in silence.

The structure has deteriorated considerably over time, commuters say. Things are worse during the monsoon due to leaky ceilings and water dripping from the roof of the foot-over-bridges (FOBs).

“Every year, the rains reveal the glaring flaws and issues. We bear with these inconveniences. Just a few brief spells of rain cause the ceiling to leak. This water not only seeps on the staircase but also onto the platforms. Minor fixes are done every now and then, but that is unable to solve the problems in the long-term,” said Amit Patil, a Nerul resident.
Nerul station sees a high footfall, especially from students as there are several educational instructions in the area.
“The condition of the station itself looks shabby as the water stains over the years have made the interiors of the station appear dull and grey. Every year we face the same problems, a revamp is the need of the hour,” said Manav Singh, a regular commuter.
“Although these stations were built in the 90’s to have a modern look, today, Nerul station looks even more rundown than its other counterparts. Even though the platforms are swept, there is still the presence of flies, litter, and paan stains. While the leaks are not noticed during other times of the year, it becomes a cause for concern in the monsoon. There is also the problem of homeless people setting up makeshift homes on the platforms. They are made to vacate the premises by GRP Police but keep coming back,” said Ishwari Kore, a resident of sector 11, Nerul.
While a face lift is not yet on the cards, commuters believe that consistent upkeep and maintenance can help improve the condition of the station.