Mumbai suburban stations to get new escalators, FOBs

Mumbai, Feb 27: A budget of Rs 45 crore has been earmarked towards escalators, Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), ATVMs for Mumbai suburban section among other allocations in the annual Union Railway budget, a senior railway official said.

Railway ministry has paid attention towards Thane suburban station, which has seen unprecedented passenger growth in the last few years, a senior official said.

"To upgrade Thane station, sufficient funds have been provided for 15 escalators, besides a foot over bridge. Rs 4 crore has been allocated for increasing automated ticket vending machines (ATVMs) on the suburban system to reduce queues at booking offices," he said.

Besides, a budget of Rs 160 crore has been allocated for the construction of sixth track between Kalyan and Kasara as well as funds has also been allocated for the Thane-Kalyan and Thakurli road over bridges, he said.

The officer also apprised that Rs 10.9 crore has been earmarked for an Integrated Security System (ISS) at 11 stations on the suburban section and Rs 1.29 crore to install lifts at various stations.

According to a statement issued by Central Railway (CR), Rs 2 crore has been allocated for roof over platforms to cater 15-car trains at some of the CR suburban stations.

A senior official of Western Railway (WR) said Rs 5.68 crore has been sanctioned for installation of a water recycling plant at the Bandra Terminus with a capacity of one million litre water per day for cleaning of trains and other various internal uses. "We have got adequate funds. Escalators will be installed at 12 locations in six stations while foot bridges will be provided at Bhayander, Elphinstone Road, Kandivli, Khar and Virar stations," he said.

"There is also sufficient budgetary allocation to raise the height of platforms from 840 mm to 920 mm of 97 stations on the Churchgate and Dahanu Road route," the official said.

PTI