In order to alleviate congestion, the Ghatkopar railway station will receive 14 escalators and six new foot overbridges (FOBs) from the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC). The renovation will help reduce traffic during peak hours and is anticipated to cost between 50 and 60 crore rupees. The escalators will increase passenger accessibility, while the FOBs will add more area for business use. Currently, the station serves between 3 and 4 lakh commuters by train and 4.8 million by metro each day. Six foot overbridges (FOBs) and 14 escalators have been proposed by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) to alleviate the overcrowding at Ghatkopar railway station, particularly on the existing FOB that connects to the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) metro line 1.
Three of the six proposed FOBs will coincide with the current east-west FOB. These three will each be 12 meters wide, providing space for movement and allowing even the CR to use the area for commercial purposes. Four elevators and 14 escalators are also being built, according to an MRVC spokesperson.
The new FOBs have drawings that have been produced. According to sources, the improvement will cost between 50 and 60 crore.
One of the new FOBs will be a 10-meter-wide raised deck that runs directly above platform 1, linking all FOBs that travel east to west and even connecting to the current skywalk that leads outside the station.
Officials with the Central Railway said they will have the opportunity to add extra ticket booths, set up eateries and shops for commuters, and clear encroachments from the platforms below with the help of this bridge.
with addition to connecting the train station to the metro line, this raised deck will aid with crowd control. This will relieve some of the pressure on the current FOB, an official added.
Similar to this, a 15-meter-wide elevated deck with a ticketing office will be located on the east side of the train station.
Transport experts cited Ghatkopar station as an excellent illustration of how two public transportation options may combine and make commuting easier. However, this station has experienced a significant increase in traffic in recent months, particularly during peak hours. Earlier this month, a video that showed commuters swarming the rail FOB as they made their way to the metro station went viral on social media.
“During rush hour, the lengthy lines of people waiting to enter the metro station resemble a stampede. However, individuals who want to use the local trains have difficulties, according to Kailash Verma, president of the Mumbai Rail Users Cell.
Manpreet Singh, a resident of Ghatkopar, continued, “Entering the metro station becomes impossible without standing in serpentine lines. Authorities must locate alternative points of access and exit.
3–4 lakh passengers use the Ghatkopar railway station per day, whereas 4.80 lakh commuters use the metro line.
Source- Hindustan times
