Western Railway audit says link FOBs to skywalks to manage crowds

Mumbai: Western Railway (WR) audit teams that surveyed all 36 stations have come out with recommendations such as building access or connection between skywalks outside and FOBs inside stations to facilitate faster crowd dispersal during peak hours. Other recommendations in the report include provision of entry/exit landings 500m away from current landings, especially at crowded stations like Elphinstone Road; and not allowing hawkers on FOBs during peak hours and festivals.

Although the final report is still in draft stage, audit teams have submitted extensive reports and general manager A.K. Gupta is currently preparing the final report.

A WR official said, “The key to crowd dispersal in the immediate future is to connect all FOBs at a station to a skywalk that will lead to the crowd getting off on the road opposite the station rather than right next to it as is the case currently. The second thing we are considering is that we will be extending current entry/exit points at stations. For example, the exit at Elphinstone Road will be extended up to the outside road.”

The railway has also decided that hawkers will be strictly prohibited on FOBs, especially during peakhours and festivals when maximum footfalls are seen. The Central Railway (CR) has already submitted its report on October 9, which also looked into expansion of FOBs and overall repairs needed for commuter safety.