New Delhi station may get 100-foot-wide footover bridge

NEW DELHI: After a revamped facade at the Paharganj entrance and new waiting and cloak rooms for passengers, the New Delhi railway station is set to get a mega 100-foot-wide footover bridge (FOB) by next year aimed at handling a majority of the 2 station’s 3-5 lakh daily passenger load.
The planned FOB will be in addition to the three existing ones and will be equal in width to five conventional FOBs combined.It will run across all 16 platforms of the railway station and have provisions for seating, officials said, adding that kiosks are also under consideration.

The structure is a part of attempts by Northern Railways to ease congestion at the station. Officials said it would act as a “second platform” for passengers and take the load off the actual platforms.
They said the existing FOBs were not sufficient in handling the passenger load which can increase to around 5-6 lakh passengers daily during the festive rush period.
The project is likely to cost around Rs 40 crore.
NEW LOOK
Foot overbridge to take load off platforms too
The proposal for the new FOB is currently with the Union railway ministry after an approval was given by the general manager of Northern railways, T P Singh. Divisional railway manager (Delhi division) S C Jain said construction is likely to start by the mid of next year.
“We continue to receive cases of people using the tracks to cross from one platform to another instead
of using the FOB. The problem is particularly rampant during the festive period when the station averages a footfall of 5-6 lakh each day. The new FOB which is planned will not only solve this problem but also reduce considerable load at the platforms by providing additional seating space for passengers,” Jain told TOI.
“Once the ministry approves the plan, we will get a comprehensive design and plan made which will include all basic amenities and seating for passengers. It will double as a platform, reducing considerable load on the actual platforms down below,” said Jain, adding that the location of the bridge is yet to be finalised and will be decided once all approvals are received.
Of the three FOBs that exist, the central bridge is the one stated to be connected to the new skywalk that is coming up at the railway station and will connect the Ajmeri Gate side of the station directly to the Airport Express line Metro station. “All three remaining FOBs will not be removed and the new FOB is simply an addition. Once the new skywalk is completed, it will also help us reduce the congestion that takes place outside,” said Jain.
As part of the improvement plans, the New Delhi railway station recently saw a false ceiling installed at platforms 1 and 16 of the station. Officials say this is being replicated at the other platforms as well to give a modern look, commonly seen at airports. “Work on the false ceiling is already on and it will gradually cover all platforms,” said an official.