Premium

Bhandup accident brings to focus ‘station road’ problem in Mumbai

Teeming with people and hawkers, these roads post a huge challenge for motorists.

Written by: Mohamed Thaver, Nayonika Bose

4 min readMumbaiUpdated: Dec 30, 2025 10:38 PM IST

The BEST bus accident that led to four deaths in Bhandup area. (PTI Photo)

The bus accident that led to four deaths in Bhandup area near the railway station was not the first one that took place on a station road in Mumbai. While congestion on the roads is a phenomenon across the city, on a “station road” that connects the city to the railway station, it is extreme with hawkers, bus stops, depots, autorickshaw stands, shared auto stands and large crowds pouring out of trains every few minutes.

In June 2018, a BEST bus reversing outside the Kurla railway station ran over Amrin Shaikh (22) as she got stuck between two BEST buses stationed at the depot outside the railway station.

Residents of Bhandup area where the accident took place on Monday have been complaining for long about the congestion with autorickshaws and buses not even having space to take a turn outside the railway station.

In the Monday incident, police said casualties would have been much higher had the driver not turned the bus to the right.

Also Read | Lawyer files complaint with SHRC over BEST accident outside Bhandup station

Railway activist Sameer Zaveri said that it is an open secret that the action against hawkers is superficial as in most cases, officials at local levels are bribed. “The government is aware about the passenger footfall at stations such as Kurla, Dadar and Thane. They have to ensure safe movement of passengers at the railway stations and outside,” Zaveri said.

Usually, the state and railways bicker about jurisdiction, he said, adding, “They should jointly look into this and it is not very difficult to do.”

Bhandup resident Datta Revankar said, “Forget going by a vehicle, even to walk out from Bhandup station and reach the main LBS road is a frustrating experience. Autorickshaws and buses are constantly honking and the footpaths are taken over by hawkers. It is disorienting.”

Story continues below this ad

According to experts, while there are no specific guidelines for designing roads outside congested spaces like railway stations, streets are planned as per the norms laid down in the Indian Road Congress. The government has over the years built skywalks outside railway stations but they have not completely solved the issue in light of massive crowding, especially during peak hours.

Vivek Pai, an urban planner who has designed master plans for several railway stations, including Thane and Kalyan, said, “Indian Road Congress lays down specifications for types of roads. Besides these, we also carry out demand forecasting for each road to project the footfall and the load on a certain road before planning it.”

Also Read | ‘An accident waiting to happen’: Anger outside post-mortem room as families mourn 4 killed by BEST bus in Mumbai’s Bhandup

“In case of roads outside railway stations, we also consult with the local authorities besides the Railways to gauge the desired carrying capacity of these roads,” added Pai.

However, local residents as well as experts echoed that encroachments along the footpaths have emerged as the biggest impediment for pedestrians. With roads outside railway stations clogged with encroachments, pedestrians are forced on to the road where they have to negotiate with vehicles for space.

Story continues below this ad

Responding to questions, BMC officials said that removal of encroachments poses challenges owing to the absence of a Town Vending Committee.

“We keep on carrying out regular encroachment removal drives but the hawkers come back again. One of the biggest reasons for this is the lack of implementation of the Town Vending Committee, which was stalled due to court matters. Since there has been no survey, we do not know the names of actual legal and illegal hawkers making their removal a big challenge for us,” a senior BMC official told The Indian Express.

Mohamed Thaver

Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems. Experience & Authority Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field. Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus. Key Beats: Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch. Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force. Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict. Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations. Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed. Credentials & Trustworthiness Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order. He tweets @thaver_mohamed ... Read More

Nayonika Bose

Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
BEST bus

Loading Taboola...