The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) is planning to develop all-weather pedestrian subways at three railway stretches identified as vulnerable to trespassing, following the commissioning of a similar facility near Bhiwandi Road.
The proposed locations are Thane-Dighe, Sanpada carshed and Titwala-Khadavli, where unauthorised track crossings have been linked to safety concerns and fatalities. MRVC is evaluating three sites at present, while a possible fourth location has not yet been disclosed.
The new subways are still at the planning stage, with their dimensions, design specifications and execution schedules yet to be finalised. However, the Bhiwandi facility is expected to serve as a reference model for future crossings.
Bhiwandi Subway Sets the Template
The subway near Bhiwandi Road station was constructed beneath seven operational railway tracks on the Panvel-Vasai Road section without interrupting train movement.
Engineers installed four large precast reinforced concrete sections beneath the live tracks using hydraulic pushing technology, allowing construction to progress while railway operations continued above.
The facility has been equipped with multiple waterproofing layers and protective membranes to prevent water seepage. Its structural design also takes into account heavy freight movement, including loading standards applicable to the Dedicated Freight Corridor.
Additional features include covered approaches, lighting, ventilation and drainage systems, making the crossing usable throughout the year and during adverse weather conditions.
The subway allows pedestrians and two-wheelers to cross the tracks without entering active railway areas, potentially reducing the risk of accidents while improving connectivity between communities on either side of the railway line.
Replicating the Safety Model
MRVC’s proposed expansion of the all-weather subway concept is aimed at providing safer alternatives at locations where people frequently cross railway tracks illegally.
Unlike temporary barricading or enforcement drives, dedicated subways could offer a permanent solution by giving pedestrians a designated crossing point away from moving trains.
The three identified stretches — Thane-Dighe, Sanpada carshed and Titwala-Khadavli — will undergo further assessment before detailed plans are prepared.
MRVC is expected to examine factors including railway traffic, pedestrian movement, site conditions, drainage requirements and construction feasibility before finalising the designs.
The initiative comes amid continued efforts to reduce railway trespassing, which remains a significant safety challenge across suburban and non-suburban sections.
While the Bhiwandi subway demonstrates that such infrastructure can be built beneath operational tracks without halting train services, MRVC’s proposed locations will require site-specific engineering solutions.
Once the assessments are completed, the corporation will determine the final location
Source: The Free Press Journal
