A recent late-night scene at Thivim railway station left passengers alarmed as stray cattle occupied the platforms, turning the area into a makeshift shelter.
A passenger travelling to Kerala with friends and children recounted how, upon arriving at the station after midnight, they were forced to dodge and jump over cows and bulls that had made the platform their home. “Cows were squatting comfortably to escape the rain, while bulls snorted and challenged each other — it was dangerous even to walk through,” the passenger said.
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The chaos worsened as dozens of stranded passengers, including migrant families, were seen sleeping on the station floor. With no public transport available late at night and taxi fares too high, families were left to rest amid cow dung, urine, and swarms of mosquitoes.
Many commuters have questioned the railway staff’s inaction despite several personnel being on duty. “Isn’t it the responsibility of the authorities to maintain a clean and safe station? Have they even coordinated with the local panchayat or gaushala to relocate the cattle?” a traveller asked.
Railway employees, being public servants funded by taxpayers, owe commuters a clean and dignified experience, passengers said. Foreign tourists too witness this disgraceful state of neglect, damaging Goa’s image as a global travel destination.
“The railway platform is meant for humans, not cows,” said another commuter. “Travellers deserve a safe and sanitary environment to commute in peace.”
