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Foundation work begins on Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus's much-needed FOB

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The foot overbridge (FOB) that is supposed to set right the historical south bias of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), started last week with officials expecting it to be partially complete by the end of this year. Workers have begun digging trenches on the suburban platforms to lay the foundation for the pillars and also stated removing portions of the platform roofs to facilitate the construction.

CST, with 18 platforms (seven for suburban and 11 for outstation trains) has almost all its exit points at the southern end with only a foot overbridge in the northern end connecting platform number one to seven.

The entrance from the General Post Office (GPO) side and the subways from the BMC side are all on the south end of the terminus leading to a situation where almost 80 per cent of commuters crowd the southern side.

As reported earlier by dna, Central Railways (CR) is building a 250-metre long foot overbridge from the east end of the terminus to the west so that people using the terminus don’t have to pass 18 platforms, using only the southern arc of the sprawling edifice.

According to officials, the 5-metre wide FOB will be the longest such structure in the city to have both its bases within the railway area. The project will cost between Rs5 to Rs8 crore.

“With the construction of new platforms, a long distance train passenger would have to walk almost a kilometre from the end of platform number 18 to get to platform number 1 and take a big C-shaped curve within the terminus. With luggage, this becomes a nightmare,” said a senior CR official.

The new connector will start from the current FOB on the northern end a point between platform number 4 and 5 and then move through the CST yard and stabling area to be connected to the FOB that connects platform 16, 17 and 18. Platforms number 16 to 18 have exit points on the eastern flank of the station, opening on P D’Mello road, but people prefer the safety of walking within the terminus to come towards the GPO end to hail taxis especially late at night, observed officials.

Speaking to dna, Mukesh Nigam said that the plan was to connect suburban platforms number 1-7 to platform number 13, which caters to outstation trains, by the end of this year. “Pillars have been laid at several places and girders have also been placed. We will finish the portion between platform number one to 13 first and then take it all the way towards platform number 18. It will be a great relief for commuters,” said Nigam.

How will the FOB help passengers?
CST, with 18 platforms (seven for suburban and 11 for outstation trains) has almost all its exit points at the southern end with only a foot overbridge in the northern end connecting platform number one to seven

The 5-metre wide FOB will be the longest such structure in the city to have both its bases within the railway area

The plan is to connect suburban platforms number 1-7 to platform number 13, which caters to outstation trains, by the end of this year

The project is estimated to cost between Rs5 and Rs8 crore.

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