Western Railway Begins Widening Work at Prabhadevi Station South Foot Over Bridge
Western Railway has begun work to widen the narrow entry and exit point on the western side of the South Foot Over Bridge (FOB) at Prabhadevi railway station to ease passenger congestion. As part of the project, steel structural members for an additional staircase are being fabricated on priority at Dadar Workshop.
The decision to upgrade the entry point followed inspections conducted by Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Mumbai Central, Pankaj Singh, alongside officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Western Railway.
An existing toilet block adjacent to the South FOB entry has already been demolished after Western Railway obtained the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the BMC. In its place, an additional staircase is planned to facilitate smoother passenger movement.
Crews are currently digging trial pits at the site to identify underground utilities, such as electrical cables and water pipelines. The foundation layout for the proposed staircase has been marked, and excavation work is actively underway.
To accommodate local sanitation needs following the demolition, Western Railway agreed to provide two toilets from an existing colony toilet block for nearby residents. The railway administration is also exploring the possibility of providing four toilet facilities through existing setups, while requesting the BMC to arrange additional facilities.
The improvements follow a joint coordination meeting held on August 18, chaired by DRM Singh and attended by Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajkta Verma Lavangare, along with representatives from MahaRail, local police, and traffic police.
During the meeting, officials discussed a phased plan to manage passenger circulation at Prabhadevi (West). Pedestrian movement and congestion on the existing FOB have increased significantly following the dismantling of the Carol Road Over Bridge (ROB). In response, authorities discussed a proposal for an additional 12-metre-wide FOB with staircase and lift arrangements. While the proposal had previously been submitted without approval, the BMC has now agreed in principle to examine it. Western Railway and civic authorities will jointly determine a suitable location based on site constraints, passenger convenience, and land availability.
Additionally, police and traffic authorities have been tasked with taking action against errant parking near the FOB landing to maintain clear circulation paths and enhance safety around the station.
