Booking office to remain shut due to wiring issues

Mumbai: The ticket booking office on the eastern side of Bandra station has been temporarily shut in the wake of the major fire that broke out on Thursday afternoon. Railway officials have said that the fire had destroyed the wiring inside the booking office, and hence it would be re-opened only after a proper investigation is conducted.

“A new booking office which has been recently set up will be in use until the investigation is complete and it is ensured that the old office is safe to use,” said a railway official at the Bandra station.

The new booking office is located on the new foot overbridge (FOB) towards the Borivali end of the station. In addition to this, the Railways has installed eight extra Automated Vending Machines (AVM) for commuters to buy tickets. “Retired railway officials have been deployed to operate these machines at the station,” added the official.

Four railway staffers were inside the office when the blaze started. The shops below the office were completely gutted in fire, but the office was engulfed in flames and smoke for sometime, but the Railways faced no major loss.

“The wiring has been destroyed, but official papers and tickets were left untouched by the blaze,” said the official.