Red tape hampering rail infra, say officials

Mumbai: At least a dozen foot over bridges on the Western and Central Railway lines need to be replaced or upgraded. But it takes at least two years for a FOB to complete due to the alleged red-tape such as the tender process which consumes six months.

According to sources, three months are initially needed to finalise the bid after which it takes another three months to start the work. An official said, “It takes around a one-and-a-half year to complete the work, apart from the tendering process. The fact is that we get only four hours to do the work, so it takes around two years to build a FOB.”

A dozen of the FOBs have been suggested by the Central and Western Railway post the Elphinstone Road tragedy.

An official explained that cost of building a FOB is around `1.5 to 2 crore. He added, “The railways has suggested that they must be allowed to fast-track the tendering process as it takes six months for the process to be completed.”

The WR has suggested seven news FOBs at Virar, Vasai, Bhayander, Malad, Goregaon and Vile Parle. While the Central Railway (CR) has suggested more than ten FOBs at Masjid, Sandhurst, Chinchpokli, Thane, Shahad, Titwala and Kalyan. The proposals have been submitted to the Railway Board.