CR needs over `10 crore to complete FOBs
Insufficient funds in the Railways’ coffers have left many ongoing city railway infrastructure projects incomplete, inconveniencing commuters and resulting in fatal accidents. Presently, almost a dozen foot overbridges have been under construction for over a year, but most of these FOBs have been left incomplete for lack of funds.
Surprisingly, senior railway officials in the engineering department don’t know when funds will be released and work will resume. Currently, work on the FOBs, funded and built by Mumbai Rail Vikas Nigam (MRVC), is moving at a snail’s pace. The incomplete FOB at Kurla station is one such undone project, awaiting funds. This is leading to of two to three casualties daily at Kurla. In 2012, 459 passengers and in 2011, 475 passengers lost their lives at Kurla station.
Similarly, two FOBs at Thane, one FOB at Lokma-nya Tilak Terminus and two FOBs at Vidyavihar station are also facing the same funds shortage problem. Meanwhile, FOB work at Ambernath, Badalapur, Karjat, Vitthalwadi is going very slow.
A railway official admitted that work on some FOBs is only progressing on papers. An engineer attached to these construction works said, “We need `10 crore to finish the construction of the ongoing infra projects. But we are confident that we will get funds in the upcoming budget.” He added, “Currently CR has 96 FOBs at suburban section from 76 stations, but there should be at least 100 more FOBs at all stations. Stations having sufficient FOBs are also witnessing trespassing cases.”
As far as WR is concerned, it has 99 FOBs while 19 are under-construction. Divisional Rail-way
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