Mumbai’s crowded Ghatkopar railway station has received a major infrastructure upgrade with the commissioning of a new elevated deck and an additional foot overbridge (FOB), aimed at improving passenger movement between suburban rail services and Metro Line 1.
The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited (MRVC) has opened the newly developed facilities as part of its ongoing Station Improvement Project. The upgrade includes a 12-metre-wide and approximately 65-metre-long south-end FOB, along with a 55-metre-long elevated deck connecting the existing Metro FOB with the newly constructed FOB.
“The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Limited (MRVC) has commissioned a newly constructed elevated deck along with a 12-metre-wide, approximately 65-metre-long south-end foot overbridge (FOB) at Ghatkopar railway station under the ongoing Station Improvement Project,” an MRVC spokesperson said.
The elevated deck has been designed to ensure smoother commuter flow within the station premises. “The 55-metre-long elevated deck connects the existing Metro FOB with the new south-end FOB and serves as a vital passenger circulation corridor. The deck has a width varying from four metres at the Metro FOB connection to 7.5 metres where it joins the south-end FOB, ensuring efficient dispersal of commuters. It also features a 6.10-metre-wide staircase providing direct access to the Metro station building, enabling faster, safer and more convenient interchange between Metro and suburban rail services,” he said.
The additional south-end FOB will provide better access to railway platforms and increase the station’s passenger handling capacity. “The 12.0-metre-wide south-end FOB complements the elevated deck by providing additional access to the railway platforms and substantially enhancing the station’s overall passenger handling capacity,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of the project, the MRVC spokesperson said, “These integrated passenger facilities will greatly improve station circulation, strengthen Metro-rail connectivity and provide much-needed relief from congestion. We remain committed to delivering safe, accessible and commuter-centric infrastructure with minimum disruption to train operations and passenger movement.”
MRVC Chairman and Managing Director Vilas S Wadekar said the facilities are equipped with CCTV surveillance, passenger announcement systems, and improved directional signage. “The passenger circulation and wayfinding systems have been designed in accordance with the recommendations of IIT Roorkee,” he stated.
The station improvement work gained momentum after concerns were raised over overcrowding at Ghatkopar station, which serves both suburban railway passengers and Metro Line 1 commuters. Following multiple reports of congestion, railway authorities initiated plans to upgrade the station and improve passenger safety.
Source: Mid-day
