Mumbai: Charni Road station staircase frame comes up in just 12 days

Work underway for the staircase linking platforms 2-3 to an FOB, at Charni Road station on Sunday morning. Pic/Devraj Malekar

Less than two weeks after mid-day highlighted the inconvenience faced by scores of train travellers, particularly women and elderly, at Charni Road station, Western Railway has fast-tracked the work on a new staircase of a foot overbridge (FOB). Charni Road station's island platforms 2 and 3 had been left without access at the Dadar-end due to the ongoing work.

The only way to access the middle island platforms is via the Churchgate-end bridge which is narrow and old. This prompts several commuters to jump tracks and trespass. High drama often prevails at the site, with the RPF personnel standing at one end discouraging commuters from using the tracks.

Also read: Mumbai: Thank you, mid-day, say Charni Road locals

Once completed, the staircase will be of great help to users, particularly women and senior citizens

While WR had promised that the work would be over within 45 days, it has nearly completed the staircase frame in 12 days flat. "If they really want to get things done, they can work wonders," said local resident Devraj Malekar.

Officials said the staircase to the slow-line platforms 2-3 could not be built earlier due to the old bridge and a signal cabin coming in the way. The new staircase has been built after the removal of the old bridge and a passage over the signal cabin.

Railway officials said that a wider and bigger east-west FoB is also coming in the middle of the station near the Masina Hospital entry point on one side and landing in the BMC garden on the other side in the west.

45
No. of days WR says it needs to finish the work