Mumbai’s Elphinstone Station’s History is Steeped in Neglect

While workers transitioned from being blue collared to white collared, the station remained neglected for years.

The foot-over-bridge, where the stampede occurred, connects the Elphinstone station to Parel from where commuters shift to Central Line.

(Photo: PTI)

Mumbai's Western Railway Line carries three million commuters every day. And it is no secret that for most office-goers taking that line, Elphinstone Road Station served as a key station for many.

The foot-over-bridge, where the stampede occurred, connects the station to Parel from where commuters shift to Central Line.

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

It is perceived that station was named after Mountstuart Elphinstone, a Scottish statesman who worked for East India Company and served as one of the early Governors of Bombay. However, the station was named after his nephew John Elphinstone who served as the Governor of Bombay.

Also Read: In Photos: Mumbai’s Spirit Crumbles After Elphinstone Stampede

From Blue Collar to White Collar Workers

Considered a “poor cousin” to its neighbour Dadar, the Elphinstone Road station was opened to public in the year 1867. At that time, only two of the four platforms in the station was used.

The two platforms were "filthy, lacked basic services such as restrooms and clean benches", reads a Scroll.in article.

A view of the Elphinstone railway stations foot-over-bridge where a stampede took place, in Mumbai on Friday. (Photo: PTI)

The station was since then was used by textile mill workers, and those who were employed in the many engineering factories that occupied the western line. Until three decades ago.

Also Read: Elphinstone Stampede: Problems Aplenty For Daily Commuters

As mills and factories that lined the western line, gave way to high-rise office building, starting early 2000s, as the ‘blue collar’ workers transcended to ‘white collar’ ones, the number of people commuting to and from the station have also increased.

But today, from banks and multi-national companies, media corporations to corporate houses, the neighbourhood is considered one of the busiest in Mumbai, especially on working days.

Environmental journalist Darryl D’Monte, who has regularly taken the Western Line since 1970s, says that even as workers transitioned from ‘blue collar’ to ‘white collar’ workers, the station remained neglected.

I have been taking the same line since 1970s. Today, the station is crowded only during peak office hours. But this crowd is still more than the number of people who used to commute in the 1970s. The factories used to run three shifts, throughout the day and the last local used to be filled with people.

Darryl D’Monte, Environmental Journalist

He added that while many more people are taking the local trains now than ever before, the Mumbai locals, considered the lifeline of the city, remains neglected.

It has just two platforms. The most obvious thing for them to do after the number of people who took the train increased at such a pace was to construct another staircase or a bridge. But from then to now, there has been absolutely no infrastructural development in the station.

Darryl D’Monte, Environmental Journalist

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Also Read: ‘It Could’ve Been Me’: My First Thought After Elphinstone Stampede

No Development Since Then?

The Indian Railways, which ideally should've evolved simultaneously, was to bear the crush of growing workers. Commuters convey that the stations like Elphinstone and Parel face a stampede-like situation "daily", said the report.

A slipper of an injured commuter is seen stuck on the railing of a pedestrian bridge where a stampede took place at the Elphinstone station in Mumbai on Friday.(Photo: PTI)

Speaking to The Quint, a commuter who takes the local line everyday said that the foot-over-bridge was wide enough to handle the commuters it receives.

Over 10,000 office goers use this bridge, every hour, during the peak time. It is not wide enough to handle so many commuters. The hawkers line the bridge, further narrowing the space that is left for people to use the bridge.

Also Read: ‘Elphinstone Tragedy Was Waiting to Happen’: Angry Eyewitnesses