Navi Mumbai: The Belapur Railway Station circulating area and several approach roads remain inadequately lit, prompting safety concerns among daily commuters, particularly women and students travelling after dark.Passengers have urged the authorities to restore street lighting immediately and inspect the affected area at night. The poorly illuminated stretches include the road between Urban Haat and the station’s main ticket counter, as well as the route from Platform No. 1 towards Agroli and Income Tax Colony. Thousands of passengers use the approaches daily, but commuters say some street lights are not working and others provide only dim, inadequate illumination.Passengers say they sometimes rely on mobile phone flashlights to walk to or from the station. “The darkness has fuelled fears that criminal or inappropriate activity could occur in the area and has increased anxiety among women and students returning home at night,” said Mahesh Sharma, a local resident.Residents and commuters have demanded that CIDCO officials personally visit the approaches after dark, inspect existing lights and promptly repair or replace those that are faulty. They have also sought sufficient lighting across the entire station area to provide a safer route for pedestrians. CIDCO said the complaints are being taken into consideration.Road conditions on the same approaches have also drawn complaints. CIDCO asphalted the road after the previous monsoon following repeated demands and complaints from passengers. However, commuters say potholes returned at several locations within about a year, raising questions about the quality and durability of the work carried out by CIDCO’s engineering department.Railway passenger Ramchandra Tupe said travelling on the dark roads at night posed a serious safety issue for women and students. He called on the officials concerned to inspect the location at night, repair the lights immediately and ensure adequate illumination throughout the area.Local residents said basic pedestrian infrastructure and proper lighting were expected around a major railway station in a planned city. They have asked the administration to address both the lighting failures and damaged road surface so passengers can reach the station safely.They said the recurring problems, despite earlier complaints and road repairs, reflected neglect and required urgent intervention to improve safety and convenience for the large number of passengers using the station.
