One FoB (foot over bridge) of the Daltonganj railway station under the Dhanbad division of the east central railway has been closed for passengers to negotiate it to reach platform number 2 and 3 and in reverse to reach platform number 1. This FoB is the oldest and most used one.
It's now in a state not 'far from collapsing' said a railway official citing how an identical condition FoB at Muzaffarpur railway station in Bihar had collapsed in November 2023.
Its closure from both the ends is causing enormous inconveniences to the passengers as they have now no option but to use another newly built FoB which is at the far end of the Daltonganj railway station.
Daltonganj railway station superintendent Umesh Kumar said "The engineering division of the railway has got it shut. It will remain closed for months together."
"This FoB was sighing. (in railway lingo sighing is where its bridge or foot over bridge is in a state of dilapidation) It was getting dilapidated with every passing day." added Umesh Kumar.
Many slabs of this FoB were found to be peeling off. Iron bars in the slabs were without cement and concrete. These iron bars were just exposed to the weather.
He said "The decision to shut this FoB is very timely. It's all for the safety of the passengers here."
Around 5,000 passengers commute every day by trains here.
And now with the closure of this FoB, the entire pressure of the commutation of the passengers will be on the new and broad foot over bridge.
Sick, disabled and 80 plus age passengers are bound to feel the discomfort of using this far end FoB.
Daltonganj railway station has 2 lifts. But it is shut more than open. Commenting on this station superintendent said "We find 500 boys and girls every morning here who come by various trains to attend their coaching centres or colleges. These boys and girls misuse lifts. Hence we are to shut it."
The Daltonganj railway station comes under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and hence there is going on modernization to this century old railway station.
