09 August,2018 08:00 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B Aklekar
The escalators stop working whenever an express train arrives at the platform, mainly during the evening hours
If we go by Saurashtra Passengers' Association secretary Nitin H Vora's experience, then it appears that the coolies at the Borivli station are having a free run in cheating passengers, especially during the evening hours when the escalators suddenly start malfunctioning.
Vora said that he had experienced it twice - once in July and again on August 3. However, railway authorities are of the opinion that since they received a complaint few months back, officials in plain clothes have been conducting decoy checks at the station.
Speaking to mid-day, Vora said this mostly happens in the evening hours when express trains arrive at the platforms. "On August 3, when I went to the station with my mother, none of the escalators were working.
Suddenly some coolies surrounded her and started quoting high rates for carrying our luggage. They asked for a minimum of Rs 250, which is usually around Rs 40-50. However, instead of taking their help, we climbed up the escalator with the luggage. After some time, when the crowd dispersed, the escalators started working again."
ALSO READ
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyalaya, Borivali Takes Crown as the Best School
Mumbai local train updates: WR to operate 5-hour block between Andheri, Borivali
Zero action against hawkers: Bombay High Court pulls up BMC
Borivli hawker menace: Road cleared, ply your buses, BMC tells BEST
Attend this Christmas Flea in Borivli to support young footballers of the area
He further said, "I observed the same thing a few days later and some regulars at the station told me that the escalators usually started malfunctioning whenever there was a crowd." He also said that he had registered complaints with the divisional railway officials and general manager at Churchgate. Meanwhile, Western Railway Chief PRO, Ravinder Bhakar, rubbished the allegations and said, "We are conducting decoy checks at stations to avoid such instances."
Also read: Mumbai Crime: Advocate rapes woman who hired him to fight her rape case
Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates