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Sunday 25 October 2015

Elevators to lift passenger amenity at Pune railway station

Mechanized passenger lifts would be installed at Pune and Kolhapur railway stations for easy movement to passengers from one platform to another.


The Pune railway division has provided such elevators for the first time. The service is likely to start from April.



In phase I, two lifts each would be installed at the two stations at an estimated cost of Rs 1.09 crore. Each lift would accommodate a maximum of 16 passengers and carry them from a platform to the foot overbridge and the other way round.



Tenders have been floated and work orders will be issued soon, said a Pune railway official. At the Pune station, the lifts will be set up on platform numbers 2/3 and 4/5. At the Kolhapur station, the lifts will be attached to the old foot overbridge.



"The railways have provided mechanized elevators/lifts at some prominent stations and the response so far has been good. The ministry now wants to extend the facility to all prominent stations in categories A1 and A. Besides, wheel chair and battery-operated vehicles will be provided for senior citizens and physically challenged passengers," the official said.



The Pune station has an escalator which connects the main entrance to the old foot overbridge. The mechanized lifts will be an additional facility for passengers, mostly those who face difficulties in climbing stairs or ramps.



As per estimates, over one lakh passengers travel from Pune station every day in more than 150 trains.



Vinayak Jagtap, a regular passenger, said, "The railway administration needs to put in a lot of efforts for maintenance and smooth running of the facilities. A few years back, the administration installed an escalator near platform number one. It was closed for many years and has been re-started only recently."



FoB to connect platforms



A new foot overbridge (FoB) at the Pune station will be ready soon. It will connect platform numbers one, two and three. The additional bridge will help reduce overcrowding on the old FoB. The new bridge was sanctioned a couple of years back, but the actual work started last year.




Source : TOI, 25th Oct 2015

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