In a first, WR seeks help from outside

Worried about meeting the stringent deadline for constructing 10 new foot over bridges (FOBs) and rebuilding 14 FOBs, the Western Railway, for the first time, has sought external help. The department scheduled a brainstorming session for October 17.

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal has given the railways 12-18 months for completing work on FOBs. Apart from calling in tenders and inviting consultants and builders for the work, the WR officials have said they will have to engage latest technologies to finish the project in such short notice.

"As per plans, these consultants will give ideas on how to go about constructing new FOBs at available space and methods to demolish and rebuild existing FOBs," said a WR official.

They shall be discussing proper traffic planning, creating a foundation for pillars between two tracks within limited space, modification to OHE equipment, relocating signalling poles and shifting other utilities.

The railway board has also given permission to extend the mega block timings at night from 2hours to at least 4 hours to help to carry out safety works.

ON THE AGENDA

• Meanwhile, Director General RPF, Dharmendra Kumar has sent a letter to Maharashtra Director General of Police Satish Mathur for proper codification of duties between the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) and avoid any overlapping of duties and roles during crises and exigencies. A committee has been formed to decide standard operating procedures to avoid any overlap.