East-west connectivity near stations an issue

It’s not just over-crowded, narrow foot over-bridges (FOBs) that prompt people to cross the tracks, but also the fact that there are too few FOBs and road over-bridges (ROBs) that connect the eastern and western sides of a suburb near the stations.

It’s not just over-crowded, narrow foot over-bridges (FOBs) that prompt people to cross the tracks, but also the fact that there are too few FOBs and road over-bridges (ROBs) that connect the eastern and western sides of a suburb near the stations.

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Chembur, Govandi, Wadala, Mulund, Sewri and Cotton Green lack FOBs and ROBs outside the station for east-west connectivity, which encourages commuters to use the shortest route to go across – the tracks.

The Central Railway has identified seven spots where the absence of FOB and ROB endangers the commuters’ lives. These include three spots between Sewri and Cotton Green, one spot between Mulund and Thane, at Chembur, Govandi and Raoli junction in Wadala. These locations are under the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

“We have repeatedly asked the BMC to contribute to the construction cost of FOBs here,” said a CR official, requesting anonymity.

“There is no connectivity between Chembur east and west. People have to take the longer road route from Govandi, which is not feasible for daily travelers,” said Rajkumar Sharma, Chembur resident.

“We have received letters from the Railways regarding the need to construct FOBs at some spot and the funds required. We have sent the proposal to higher authorities.”

V Malegaonkar, chief PRO, Central Railway, said: “The construction of these FOBs and ROBs is the responsibility of the state. The CR is ready to give railway land for skywalks if there are any such proposals.”