Expect downward escalators at stns

Realising that escalators are no longer an amenity but a necessity, the suburban railways has decided to instal the moving staircases to allow people to climb down as well. The escalators will be set up in pairs, one going up and the other down, officials said.

While the Central Railway is expected to build 52 more escalators within this year, close to 40 new ones will be constructed on the Western Railway. Many of these, which include both the ones that go up and down, will be opened to the public by March end.

The move will help commuters, especially the physically challenged and senior citizens, to walk up and down foot overbridges with ease.

"The pairs of escalators will allow for climbing up and down," said SK Jain, Divisional Railway Manager (Mumbai), Central Railway.

At present, there are 11 escalators on the main and harbour lines, and 34 on the Western line. "Currently wherever there are escalators, one side gets blocked unlike a staircase on FOB that is used by people on both sides. An escalator for climbing down will ensure utilisation on both ends," a railway official said.

Certain officials, though, said that downward escalators are unnecessary.

BUILDING BRIDGES

• CR is constructing 25 FOBs, of which five will be ready by January 26 this year. It built 12 FOBs in 2017. Similarly the WR is constructing 14 FOBs this year; it constructed 10 last year.