22 November,2017 09:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
In a first, suburban rail authorities to build FOBs having escalators and lifts mid-section to stop people from trespassing and jumping over tracks and walls
Suburban railway authorities in Mumbai have decided to take a novel approach to curb track crossing and trespassing - build foot overbridges with escalators and lifts in mid-section. While building escalators at stations and termini is a usual practice, constructing bridges with escalators in mid-section will be a first, following suggestions during the chief minister's War Room discussions.
Proposed under funding from the World Bank and after approval of the Chief Minister's Office, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation will be implementing the project as part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project III.
Plugging the gaps
A senior official said railways usually fenced up lines, but given the habit of crossing over to the other side from a regular spot, many a times, the walls were broken and people continued to cross tracks. Such spots needed to be plugged forever, and building an FOB at the spot with escalators and lifts would be of big help, the official added.
The railways will construct them and then hand them over to the civic body for maintenance. The railways is building over 50 bridges at a cost of over Rs 550 crore as part of the project and has identified locations on Central Railway's Main and Harbour lines and Western Railway for the same.
Awaiting approval
While the sites have been selected tentatively, and discussed and approved by the city's municipal corporation team, the railways is awaiting response from neighbouring civic bodies of Thane, Navi Mumbai and Kalyan. The list of sites will be finalised with localised inputs. These bridges are expected to be a boon for everyone, especially senior citizens, provided they are maintained well.
50
Number of such mixed bridges that will be built
Rs 550 cr
Estimated cost of this project
