WR plans subway for Jogeshwari’s Harbour platforms

To make access easier from eastern side of station, prevent commuters crossing railway tracks

Crossing lines: Commuters frequently trespass on the tracks to reach the Harbour platforms at Jogeshwari.

Western Railway (WR) plans to construct a subway to connect Jogeshwari’s Harbour line platforms with the eastern side of the station.

The Harbour line platforms are around 300 m north of the main Jogeshwari station and were developed as part of the Andheri-Goregaon extension project.

Commuters have for long been demanding a foot overbridge (FOB) connecting the platforms to the eastern side. At present, they need to cross over to the western side from the main Jogeshwari station and walk for at least 10 minutes to reach the Harbour line platforms.

A senior railway official said, “We are proposing a subway, since we will only have to extend the existing one that connects the two platforms. We had considered building an FOB, but for that we would have had to break the roof, which is extremely well-designed and aesthetically pleasing.”

Vijay Sharma a resident of Jogeshwari (East), said the number of services to Churchgate has increased with the Harbour line extension, and it is much easier to get into trains on the Harbour line platforms since they start from Goregaon. “Trains on the mainline are packed and one can hardly get in. It is worse in the evening, when Jogeshwari commuters are not allowed to get down,” Mr. Sharma said.

He said that at present, the only way to get to the Harbour line platforms was taking an FOB that is attached to a road overbridge. “The bridge is too high and hard to climb, and hence most people end up crossing the tracks,” he said.

Railway officials said they too prefer a subway, despite it being more challenging to build, as it would have fewer steps. An FOB will need to be built at a height that would provide enough clearance from the overhead wires. One needs to climb 57 steps to reach the pedestrian pathway attached to the ROB, as opposed to 27 steps in the subway connecting the two platforms. “Overall, we think a subway may be more effective to curb trespassing,” said an official.

The proposal will be sent to the Railway Board for approval and officials hope to get it sanctioned in the upcoming budget.