Western Railway completed a major overnight infrastructure block at Marine Lines railway station on Sunday to launch steel girders for a new 12-metre-wide Foot Overbridge (FOB) between Platforms 3 and 4. The project forms part of the railway’s ongoing efforts to improve passenger circulation and enhance safety at one of Mumbai’s busy suburban stations.
As part of the operation, 19 steel girders, each spanning 20 metres and weighing a combined 95 tonnes, were installed using heavy-duty road cranes. The work was carried out during a complete traffic and power block across all railway lines in the section to facilitate the safe execution of the lifting activity while minimising disruption to commuters.
The block remained in force from 1.22 am to 4.15 am, with the critical girder installation completed within the scheduled three-hour window. Western Railway Chief Spokesperson Vineet Abhishek said the work concluded as planned, allowing train services to resume on schedule.
To execute the operation safely and efficiently, Western Railway deployed extensive manpower and specialised equipment. The exercise involved two 500-tonne cranes, two hydra cranes, and one tower wagon for lifting, positioning and supporting the installation process. A workforce of 60 personnel, including 20 railway employees and 40 contractor staff, managed various activities such as site preparation, signalling precautions, heavy lifting and post-installation inspections.
Railway officials said such carefully planned blocks are essential for carrying out complex engineering works in Mumbai’s high-density suburban rail network, where infrastructure upgrades must be executed alongside uninterrupted train operations.
The successful girder launch marks a significant milestone in the Marine Lines FOB project. Once completed, the wider bridge is expected to improve passenger movement between platforms, reduce congestion during peak hours and enhance overall commuter safety.
Western Railway has been upgrading stations across the Mumbai suburban network by constructing wider and more accessible foot overbridges. Officials said the timely completion of the girder-launching work will help keep the Marine Lines project on track while ensuring minimal impact on daily railway operations.
Source: The Times of India
