The Pune railway division started the long-pending work to construct a foot overbridge (FOB) at the Pune railway station. The FOB proposal was under consideration for the last one-and-a-half years.
This will be the third overbridge at the railway station and the first that will connect only platforms one, two and three. Railway authorities expect to complete the work in seven to eight months. The FOB will come up on the Solapur end of the station.
Passengers and regular visitors have been demanding additional FOBs at the station to regulate movement of people. Passengers had said that the two existing FOBs were not adequate, especially during rush hours.
While both FOBs connect all six platforms, only one has direct exits outside the station at both ends. Passengers generally avoid using the second FOB, as they have to get down at either platform number one or six to exit the station.
A railway official said that the new overbridge will benefit commuters at large, as many long-distance trains halt on the first three platforms. People entering from the main gate will get easy access to this FOB to reach platforms two and three. They expect it to reduce pressure on the other two FOBs.
As many as one lakh passengers travel every day from Pune station in more than 150 mail and express trains, and in local trains on the Pune-Lonavla route.
The administration has also initiated steps to build a fourth FOB, which will join all six platforms and have ramps that will land outside the station on both ends. Officials said that the project is in the tendering stage at present.
The proposed FOB will run parallel to the existing overbridge with landings outside the station. The administration owns enough space on both ends, the Raja Bahadur mill end and at the main entrance to provide landings for this overbridge.
FOBs at Pune station:
Existing:
One connects all six platforms and has landings outside the station
One connects all six platforms, with landings on platform one and six
Proposed:
Construction on one has started; to connect platforms one, two and three
Second one to connect all six platforms and have landings outside station; project still in tendering stage.
Source: timesofindia, Jan14
