The one at Elphinstone Road-Parel, which was built namely to cater to the flower, fish and cloth vendors going towards Dadar and Prabhadevi; was barely used
Despite the much-awaited opening on Tuesday of the foot overbridges at Elphinstone Road-Parel, Currey Road and Ambivli stations, built by the Army, they were seen to have received a lukewarm response. Not many commuters were seen using these bridges. In fact, the one at Elphinstone Road-Parel, which was built namely to cater to the flower, fish and cloth vendors going towards Dadar and Prabhadevi; was barely used.
Sources said that in the morning hours, the number of commuters, especially the vendors using it was slightly more. But post mid-day the FOB seemed emptier. “The main purpose of the FOB at Parel was to cater to these vendors. But apart from that it will also benefit the office goers,” said a WR official. The heavy sacks carried by these vendors was one of the reasons behind the Elphinstone Road stampede on September 29.
By evening peak hours, there were few people using the new FOBs both at Currey Road and Elphinstone Road. This was way less than the existing one that is being used by people. At Currey Road and Elphinstone Road, most of them use the road-over-bridges and the old FOB. The CR officials said that the FOB at Ambivali station is being utilised and people have appreciated it.
The stampede led to the Indian Army being asked to construct three FOBs for which they took 117 days at a cost of Rs 18 crore. These bridges, that are called Bailey Bridges are used in wars and are of a different kind, especially its roof and pattern. Moreover the Central and Western Railways together have built 17 FOBs between October and February. By June, the railways will be completing work on 22 more FOBs and in next one year 56 FOBs will be constructed on both CR and WR.
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