22 July,2025 05:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Western Railway said that to ensure continued access across the platform, commuters are advised to use the other available facilities. Representational Pic/File
The Western Railway on Tuesday announced that as part of station improvement work at Mira Road station, one of the staircases on platform no. 1 will be closed to the public from the night of July 25 July, 2025.
The closure affects the south-side staircase of the second southernmost Foot Over Bridge (FOB). Railway officials have announced that the staircase needs to be dismantled to carry out necessary upgrades, the Western Railway said.
It said that to ensure continued access across the platform, commuters are advised to use the other available facilities. These include staircases, escalators, and lifts connected to the Middle FOB, North FOB, and South FOB on Platform no. 1.
Railway authorities have apologised for the inconvenience and have urged passengers to plan their travel accordingly during the construction period.
Crores wasted on underused FOBs expose poor planning and wasted public infrastructure
Over the past two decades, the railways have constructed multiple foot overbridges (FOBs) across Mumbai. However, many have been built in locations where they remain underutilised, abandoned, or have become little more than showpieces. mid-day visited several such bridges and found them deserted, even during rush hours.
Kurla east-west foot overbridge bridge: Located a few metres away from the Kalyan end of Kurla station, Kurla east-west foot overbridge bridge was originally intended to connect the East and West sides for pedestrian use. However, it was abruptly curtailed on the eastern side at the level crossing, after authorities realised it would interfere with the elevated railway project. Foundations and pier cages had already been prepared on the East, but were subsequently dismantled. With the bridge now landing awkwardly between East and West, it remains unused.
Wadala FOB: Despite a Rs 7.5 crore investment, the newly built Wadala FOB is mostly ignored by commuters. Why? The railway authorities failed to barricade the walls and left trackside gates open, encouraging people to continue using dangerous shortcuts across the tracks. Ironically, the bridge has made trespassing easier by leaving wall gaps open. It also hasn't been cleaned since it was opened.
Solution: The area around the bridge includes many schools. Fixing the wall gaps and maintaining cleanliness could improve safety and usage.
Sion-BKC Connector foot overbridge: This bridge, located between Kurla and Sion stations, connects LBS Road to Chunabhatti. It remains largely unused due to its distance from both stations and its lack of connection to the BKC connector. Owing to its isolated location, very few pedestrians use it. If properly linked, it could significantly improve pedestrian connectivity to the BKC. Solution: Integrate the bridge with the BKC connector by creating a dedicated pedestrian path that offers direct access from Chunabhatti and LBS Road into the BKC area.
