British era railway stations at Vellore Cantonment, Tiruvannamalai, Arakkonam, Vaniyambadi get bridges with lifts for commuters

The Southern Railway has completed the installation of lifts with newly built steel foot over bridge (FOBs) to connect platforms at British-era railway stations in Vellore Cantonment, Tiruvannamalai, Arakkonam, Ambur and Vaniyambadi

Railway officials said that the construction of new bridges with lifts in identified railway stations on Chennai-Bengaluru and Villupuram–Tirupati routes is part of restoration work under the Station Redevelopment Project.

These stations are also getting better passenger amenities like separate arrival and departure corridors, bright LED illumination, hassle-free access to platforms through lifts, and a rainwater harvesting system. “Work to construct new steel bridges with lifts in these railway stations has been completed. The facility will help senior citizens and women safely travel between platforms in the railway station. The new lifts will be operated in the coming weeks,” said a railway official.

As per design, the new bridge has at least 20 staircases on each side along the service lane of the stretch. Each facility, on an average, costs around ₹1.5 crore including lifts (around ₹70 lakh). Shelters have been provided on the bridge with lights and CCTV cameras. 

Both sides of the bridge have been fenced to prevent any accidental fall on the track below the new facility. Ramps have been provided for persons with disabilities. “Steel bridges with lifts will help to reach platforms to board express trains especially during rush hour. Adequate safety measures like power backup should be ensure for operating the new lifts,” said B. Sugan, a commuter.

Railway officials said that installation of lifts remains the major component of the project. Each lift, on an average, can accommodate at least 10 persons. Unlike escalators, lifts are cost effective and occupy less space. It also consumes less electricity.

Tucked between major railway junctions like Arakkonam and Jolarpet, most of these railway stations are located along Palar river on Chennai-Bengaluru-Coimbatore route. On an average, each railway station where new lifts with steel bridges are installed handles over 150 trains, mostly express and passenger trains, every day. More than 3,000 commuters board trains at each of these railway stations daily.

At present, bridges with lifts are available at railway stations in Katpadi (escalators and lifts) and Ambur on the route. Railway officials said that the total distance of each bridge in these railway stations could not be the same because of the variation in number of platforms in these railway stations. For example, Walajah railway station has a distance of 83 metres, covering seven platforms whereas the railway station at Gudiyatham is only 12 metres with three platforms.