Pune railway station to get five lifts, two new ramps proposed

Once the approval is given and funds are allocated, the actual work on the ramps and installation of lifts will begin

PUNE Soon, the elderly and physically-disabled passengers will be able to travel easily from Pune railway station as five new lifts will be installed at Pune railway station platforms in a phase-wise manner. Additionally, two new ramps for walking will come up at the newly constructed foot-over-bridge (FOB) near the reservation building.

As per the railway’s plans, five lifts and two ramps will come up at Pune railway station. (Shankar Narayan/HT PHOTO)

Following a recent survey conducted by Pune railway division officials, a detailed proposal for the same was sent to the railway headquarters for approval. Once the approval is given and funds are allocated, the actual work on the ramps and installation of lifts will begin.

“Pune railway station is a busy junction from where trains operate across the country. Daily, around 230 trains operate with over one lakh passenger footfall. For the convenience of passengers, a new wide FOB was constructed by the railways and for further ease of the elderly and physically disabled passengers, we have sent a proposal for installing lifts,” said Manoj Jhawar, Pune railway division spokesperson.

As per the railway’s plans, five lifts and two ramps will come up at Pune railway station. Out of which, two lifts will be installed on platform number 1 and one lift each will be installed between platform numbers 2 and 3, 4 and 5, and platform number 6.

There is a central FOB at the Pune railway station which is closed to the public as it has become dangerous due to cracks formed in it. While the FOB started in 2019 is wider and connects all six platforms. The five new lifts and two ramps will be attached to this FOB. Another FOB which was built in 2015 towards the Solapur end connects only platform numbers 1, 2 and 3. While the other two, older FOBs are at the Mumbai end of the station and only one of them comes out at the Raja Bahadur road side.

While passengers have welcomed this decision of the railways, Shripad Deshpande, a regular passenger, said, “Our family often travels from Pune railway station to various places and many times, we find it difficult to take our old grandmother walking all the way along the platform or even on the automatic elevator. If a lift is installed on the platforms, it will certainly make life easier for senior citizens.”