According to sources, this indicator shows status of 10 trains— five main line and five harbour line — half an hour in advance. People are now forced to depend on their co-passengers to get information on the train timings. Otherwise, they ask the police personnel, TC or other railway staff for the information. Raghunath Singh, a senior citizen and resident of Thane, who seldom comes for court cases at the High Court, was worried as he had missed his train that was scheduled to leave at 6.6 pm for Thane.

“Last time when I came to CST, this advance indicator was working. Now I have to leave for Thane by the next train. I asked a motorman about the train schedule, but he asked me to see the indicator. But no indicator was working.”

“How can other indicators show the timings for a Thane train? The next train that leaves for Thane is at 6.28 pm. There are a lot of commuters enquiring about the train timings. This indicator should be repaired immediately,” said a GRP constable posted at the station.

Prasanna Rao, a daily commuter and a resident of Vashi, who wants to catch a train leaving for Vashi at 6.10 pm, complained, “Even the daily commuters need information on time schedule of trains. Mostly daily commuters know the time schedule of their trains. But, they also depend on the indicators, if the trains get delayed.”

Around five years ago, the indicator was installed at the CST station for the convenience of daily commuters. But in the recent terrorist attack on 26/11, the indicator was hit by five bullets. When contacted, S Mudgerikar, chief public relations officer, Central Railway said, “The bullets hit the circuit of the indicator. So, it took time to repair. Now it is under repair. Commuters can see it working very soon.”