Bandra Terminus, Mumbai Central to get giant fans

One such fan is seen in a city mall.

Travellers who have to wait for their trains at Bandra Terminus and Mumbai Central can heave a sigh of relief. Western Railway (WR) has decided to install giant fans at the concourses of these stations.

Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus will be two of the first railway stations on Indian Railway to get these giant fans.

In a recent inspection, WR authorities realised that the present fans at these two stations barely provided any air to commuters. "There are many people who wait for their respective trains at the concourse, sometimes for long hours. The current lot of fans doesn't provide the necessary relief. Hence, we are looking at installing new gigantic ones," said a WR official, on condition of anonymity. The concourses of both stations see thousands of people every day.

One such fan is seen in a city mall.

According to officials, the new fans will have blades as long as 5-7 metres, nearly thrice the blade span of the currently operating fans. Two to three of these giant fans will be installed at each of the two stations, which will be two of the first places on the Indian Railway network to get these fans. Such fans can be seen at a couple of popular shopping malls in Mumbai.

"Each of this giant fans costs around Rs 3.5 lakh to 4 lakh. These fans will cover more diameter and air circulation will improve," said Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager (Mumbai), Western Railway.

Sources said that besides providing cool air to commuters, these fans will also be beneficial to the railways. Though their initial capital expenditure is higher, maintenance costs will reduce. The fans at railway stations are also sent for monthly maintenance along with the fans installed inside local trains.

Rs 3.5-4lakh
Cost of each giant fan that WR plans to install at Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus