Commuters at the extremely crowded Virar station, which is in the middle of a makeover, have complained of inconvenience. The station is being remodelled to make it seamless as a part of the Virar-Dahanu quadrupling project. “They talk about modernisation, but right now, it’s total chaos. With barricades and shifting entry points, elderly passengers and women are struggling the most. There is no crowd management at all,” Sunita More college lecturer, Nalasopara.

“Peak hours are a nightmare. One delayed train and the entire station freezes. If this is planned redevelopment, then commuters deserve better planning and temporary arrangements,” Akash Jadhav, private-sector employee, Palghar. “We understand development is necessary, but why should commuters suffer daily? Clear announcements, proper signage and staff presence are the bare minimum—and even that is missing,” Shabnam Khan, shop employee, Virar East.