Central Railways makes indicators 33% larger, readable and brighter

Already implemented at CSMT; other stations to follow; CR has also installed 17 additional indicators at CSMT.

There’s some respite for commuters who have been feeling harassed by the illegibility of Central Railway’s (CR) new indicators. Within days of Mumbai Mirror reporting the frustration of commuters in not being able to read the small letters and numbers on the white/yellow indicators on stations, the CR has increased the size by 33 per cent and made them brighter. CR has also installed 17 more indicators at CSMT – 13 on the platforms (in addition to the existing 28) and four on the foot overbridges. The colour of the indicators, however, has not been changed back to red because CR officials said there are guidelines of railway’s research wing saying that they cannot use ‘red’ colour for indicators because train drivers tend to confuse it with signals.

After Mirror report on July 13 (‘New CR indicators leave commuters squinting, sprinting’), AK Gupta, General Manager of CR, reviewed the situation with senior officials of the Signal and Telecommunication department and directed them to take immediate corrective measures. “We took cognisance of Mumbai Mirror report and, keeping in mind passenger convenience, changed the font at CSMT. This will be replicated wherever needed or possible. We also rely on commuter feedback through our own network. We will surely look at that and do the needful,” Gupta told Mirror.


In 2018, CR decided to replace the old platform indicators with hi-tech LED indicators connected via fibre cables. The first trial was conducted at Dombivali station in June 2018. Thereafter, CR decided to replace indicators on 35 stations out of 75 stations, of which 32 (including CSMT) have already been done. Total cost of this project is Rs 21 crore. The three stations where work is underway are Thane, Karjat and Neral.