Mumbai: Western Railway on Sunday executed a major infrastructure block at Marine Lines station to launch foot overbridge (FOB) girders between platforms 3 and 4. This operation is part of constructing a new 12-meter-wide bridge aimed at enhancing passenger movement and safety.
Details of the Girder Launch
During the operation, 19 steel girders, each spanning 20 meters and with a combined weight of 95 tonnes, were successfully positioned using road cranes. The work required a complete traffic and power block on all lines in the section and was undertaken in the early hours to minimize inconvenience to commuters.
Timing and Precision
The traffic and power block was enforced from 1:22 am to 4:15 am, with the critical lifting and placement activity executed within a three-hour window. Western Railway’s chief spokesperson, Vineet Abhishek, confirmed that the block was cleared on time, enabling restoration of services as scheduled.
Equipment and Manpower
To ensure precision and safety during the heavy lift operation, Western Railway deployed substantial equipment and manpower at the site. Two 500-tonne cranes were pressed into service for the girders’ launch, supported by two hydra cranes and one tower wagon for handling, positioning, and ancillary movements. A total workforce of 60 personnel was engaged, including 20 railway staffers and 40 contractor staffers, coordinating tasks ranging from site preparation and signaling-related precautions to lifting supervision and post-launch checks.
Importance of Planned Blocks
Officials emphasized that such planned blocks are essential for executing complex engineering works in a constrained urban rail environment where construction must be integrated with continuous suburban operations. The successful launch of the girders marked a key milestone in the FOB project at Marine Lines, which is expected to ease platform-to-platform movement and reduce crowding during peak hours once completed.
Broader Station Upgrades
Western Railway has been undertaking a series of station upgrades across the Mumbai suburban network, with new and wider FOBs forming a major component of passenger amenity works. The Marine Lines girders’ launch, completed within the stipulated block period, is expected to help keep the project on schedule while maintaining operational reliability.
