Mumbai: Rs 28.03 cr for ‘missing link’ between Bandra station and terminus

Bandra East, where the autorickshaw cartel runs rampant; (right) The Churchgate end of Bandra Terminus

A foot overbridge (FOB) that is the ‘missing link' between Bandra suburban railway station and Bandra Terminus, which mid-day had mooted last year, has found mention in the rail budget document that was released on Tuesday. Work is underway to link the station and terminus via a seamless skywalk integrating both spots.

This newspaper had highlighted on October 30, 2024, how a 350-metre FOB connecting the Bandra railway station to the terminus could end the woes of passengers, who tend to fall prey to the auto cartel at the station. The ‘consolidated budget document' released by the ministry of railways on Tuesday, a copy of which is with mid-day, states that the project to build a skywalk connecting Bandra suburban station (north end) to the Bandra Terminus (south end) had been sanctioned with a sum of Rs 28.03 crore set aside for it. Western Railway (WR) officials confirmed that work had already started on a 340-metre-long skywalk to connect both spots.

To commute between Bandra suburban station and the terminus, share auto drivers illegally charge Rs 30-40 per person. Commuters, who are often saddled with baggage, have no choice but to travel via auto. While there are multiple FOBs at Bandra suburban station and the terminus, they are not connected. The new FOB would, therefore, improve commuter connectivity.

A former member of the National Railway Users' Consultative Committee, Shailesh Goyal, welcomed the move and stated, "As I have been saying, there should be travellators or some light battery-operated vehicles on these new links, enabling commuters to travel with ease. There are senior citizens, children and ladies carrying heavy baggage. Such vehicles or travellators would be helpful."

Rs 30-40
Fare auto passengers travelling between Bandra station and terminus are charged