Central Railway’s new year gift: Masjid bridge dismantled, rebuilt in record 33 days

MUMBAI: The much-awaited Masjid foot over-bridge (FOB) has been completed in a record 33 days and will be inaugurated on January 1 as a New Year gift to commuters from Central Railway.
The FOB, which has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 1.2 crore, will help faster dispersal of commuters from the station area, especially during peak hours.

CR chief spokesperson Sunil Udasi said: “It is a huge achievement as the last reported fastest FOB construction in CR’s Mumbai division was within 72 days at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus.” The Masjid FOB, will will cater to both main and Harbour line platforms, was completed 12 days before deadline.

The work at Masjid station included dismantling the old FOB, carrying out two Sunday traffic blocks in the suburban section and subsequently constructing the new one. “Despite the space constraints, the excavation and foundation work were carried out without disturbing traffic and only during night corridor blocks. The girders were launched on December 16 during a six-hour Sunday megablock,” said Udasi. Between December 17 and 30, work on staircases, columns, fabrication, concreting on floor slabs were completed along with roof sheeting, painting, side railings and hand railings. The FOB landing has been widened to 4.88 metres from 2.44 metres and the staircase width has been increased to 3.66 metres from 2.44 metres on one side and to 2.3 metres from 1.8 metres on the other side. The new FOB, which is situated at the CSMT-end of Masjid station, is 17 metres long.

“In the absence of this FOB, we were inconvenienced as we had to take detour through the middle and Thane-end FOB at the station. We are happy that railways completed the project before time,” said an office-goer.

Udasi said: “We are planning 40 more FOBs along the suburban corridor this year and the work may be completed in a record three to four months.” CR will introduce 172 escalators and 65 lifts in 2019.