India, April 22 -- A day after the Central Railway (CR) barricaded platform 1 at Badlapur station, trouble started brewing on Monday. What was meant to ease congestion at this station led to confusion and crowding on Platform 2.

Commuters, who until now could board and alight from either side of platform 1 and 1A, found barricades installed on one side. Those headed for CSMT were especially inconvenienced. Shweta Roy, who regularly boards the 9am train, said, "When the train arrived, most of it extended beyond the home platform, causing chaos. Women were pushed, and those trying to alight had no space."

Angry commuters said railway officials should have been present at the site, to witness the consequences of their decision. "The earlie...