A day after DNA reported about the issues at Jogeshwari station, a meeting of the Western Railway (WR) officials on February 15 decided that four escalators will be installed on the foot over bridges (FOBs).
On February 15, DNA’s article ‘Are we waiting for an Elphinstone Rd at Jogeshwari station?’ stated how the officials were worried about overcrowding. The officials on Thursday stated that they have read the report and are working on addressing the issues. The width of the FOB is 1.5 metres on Borivali-end and that on Churchgate-end it is 2.5 metres.
“We have decided to install escalators at Jogeshwari station,” said Mukul Jain, Divisional Railway Manager (Mumbai), Western Railway.
“Three will come on the north-end FOB and another on the south- end FOB,” said Mansoor Darvesh, secretary, Passenger and Traffic Relief Association. Permissions for its approval will be taken soon, while the rail authorities will write to BMC asking them to give land wherever needed for providing landing space for these escalators.
Arif Johri, resident of Jogeshwari, said: “We have been informed that they will widen the width of the platforms and then install the escalators.”
It’s a struggle for the daily commuters alighting and boarding at Jogeshwari station due to the narrow staircase.
Sources said that there is a plan to connect the new platforms on Harbour line with the existing one using a skywalk. Right now, a completely new structure has been set up for Harbour line at Jogeshwari station towards the Borivali end. Sources in railways said that they are planning to connect the two platforms — which are more or less 100 meters away — with a skywalk.
WR MEETING
- On Thursday, there was a meeting between the residents, passenger associations and WR officials on ways to resolve this issue of overcrowding. Now, the WR authorities have proposed to install four escalators on both the FOBs at the station. By February 20, the Commissioner of Railway Safety will conduct a trial for the local trains between Andheri and Goregaon. Harbour line trains can then be taken from CSMT till Goregaon.
