At Mumbai’s Vile Parle Station, Old Steps Collide With New Bridge; Netizens Say, “Inception Level Staircase”

Commuters at Mumbai’s Vile Parle station were left surprised after noticing an unusual overlap of two foot overbridges (FOBs). A newly built foot-over bridge at the station has been obstructed by an existing staircase, creating what many described as a planning mismatch. The awkward placement has sparked criticism over coordination and execution in the project. Here’s all about this.

Confusing Fob Design At Mumbai’s Vile Parle Station

Another engineering marvel by Railways 🤦‍♂️
At Vile Parle (W), one FOB staircase lands directly onto the staircase of another FOB at a 90° angle. Result? One staircase permanently blocked, completely useless

Who even clears such designs?@WesternRly @AshwiniVaishnaw @RailMinIndia pic.twitter.com/8ZPgMMDtyP

— Public Pulse (@public_pulseIN) September 13, 2025

X user Public Pulse (@public_pulseIN) is a page dedicated to highlighting public issues and civic matters around Mumbai. Recently, the page posted a series of pictures of an absurd layout of a foot bridge at Mumbai’s Vile Parle station. In the post, he shared, “At Vile Parle (W), one FOB staircase lands directly onto the staircase of another FOB at a 90° angle. Result? One staircase permanently blocked, completely useless.”

Sarcastically calling it an “engineering marvel by Railways,” the page questioned who even clears such absurd designs? Replying to the post, Divisional Railway Manager- Mumbai Division of Western Railway clarified, “It is not feasible to open the blocked staircase portion as the gap between the staircases of the old and new FOB connection is very less.”

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Netizens Slam Poor Planning

While the DRM’s clarification sparked criticism over poor planning, many in the comments section chose to see the lighter side, drawing parallels with Hogwarts staircases and making Inception jokes.

“We Muggles won’t understand creativity. Design inspired from Hogwarts and under testing phase,” one of the comments on the post read.

One netizen sarcastically commented, “Use it with Mumbai spirit.”

Someone even called it, “Inception level staircase.”

“Railway be like, “You want hand railings everywhere? Here, take it!”,” one of the users said.

Another hilarious comment read, “They’re challenging Christopher Nolan.”

Another user highlighted another concerning issue, “There are 3 bridges to access Vile Parle station. The southern staircase on the west side of the bridge in the center is another engineering marvel. No two steps of that staircase are of the same height.”

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What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.

Cover Image Courtesy: X/@public_pulseIN