Belapur Railway Station Approach Roads Remain Poorly Lit, Residents Raise Commuter Safety Concerns

Inadequate street lighting around Belapur railway station has raised safety concerns among commuters, with residents complaining that several roads remain poorly illuminated despite heavy daily use. The issue is most noticeable on the road linking Agroli village and Income Tax Colony with Platform 1 and the main ticketing area. Commuters have also voiced worries about the stretch between Urban Haat and the station, where poor lighting hampers pedestrian movement after sundown.

Residents claim that six street lights have been installed on the affected stretch, but four of them are non-functional while the remaining two emit insufficient light to illuminate the ground adequately. One of the six lights has two lamps, while the others have only one. A resident explained, "There are a total of six street lights here.

One has two lamps and the remaining five have one lamp each. Of these, four are completely out of order. The other two are so dim that the light does not even reach the ground. Essentially, the stretch remains poorly lit after dark."

Women, students, and solo travelers returning from work, colleges, or other destinations after dark are particularly concerned about the poorly lit sections. Residents note that inadequate lighting not only impairs visibility but can also create a sense of insecurity. Police are patrolling the area regularly, but insist that improved illumination near the Parsik Hill water tank is necessary to maintain law and order.

NMMC officials from the engineering department stated that the overall failure rate of street lights in Belapur is low, with only 1% to 2% malfunctioning. They assured that repairs are carried out promptly. The NMMC is also planning to replace outdated street lights on Income Tax Road and at the Agoli bridge. However, residents urge the authorities responsible for street-light maintenance to inspect and repair the affected stretches, ensuring proper illumination along pedestrian routes connecting the station with surrounding residential areas.