Mumbai’s railway network, the lifeline of the city, once again proved its resilience as engineers and workers from Central Railway and Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) successfully installed seven massive girders at Bhandup station in record time despite relentless overnight rain. The extraordinary task was achieved in just two hours and ten minutes, underscoring the growing efficiency and discipline in one of the country’s busiest railway systems.
The operation was part of the construction of a new 12-metre-wide foot over bridge (FOB) at Bhandup, designed to improve commuter movement and reduce crowding. Work began at 1:15 am and was completed by 3:15 am, with over 100 railway staff and contractual workers labouring through incessant downpour. Officials noted that the girders were installed with precision despite challenging conditions, thanks to the deployment of heavy-duty 450 MT and Hydra cranes. To avoid disruption to the city’s lifeline services, the engineering block was carefully scheduled on the Up and Down Fast lines as well as the fifth and sixth lines during midnight hours, ensuring that suburban and express trains during the day remained unaffected. Such precision planning reflects not only on technical execution but also on the ability of the railway system to prioritise commuter needs even while expanding infrastructure.
The task of launching girders under heavy rainfall is among the most technically demanding aspects of civil engineering in urban transport. Rain-swollen tracks, slippery conditions and limited operational windows make the job fraught with risk. Yet, railway engineers and on-ground teams were able to maintain safety standards while adhering to strict timelines, a feat railway officials described as a “benchmark for urban infrastructure delivery under pressure.” Experts believe this project reflects a larger commitment towards strengthening sustainable urban mobility. Foot over bridges not only decongest platforms but also improve passenger safety by reducing the risk of track-crossing, an issue that often leads to accidents. By improving last-mile connectivity and crowd management, such projects align with the city’s broader push for safe, equitable and eco-friendly urban transport solutions.
Despite heavy rains that disrupted roads and civic life across Mumbai, the railway operation went ahead without delay, once again reinforcing the dependability of the city’s suburban system. The successful girder launch is being viewed as a model of coordination between agencies and as a reminder that even in a climate-vulnerable city, infrastructure progress can be achieved with careful planning, sustainable practices and the sheer dedication of human effort. The new bridge at Bhandup, once completed, is expected to ease congestion, improve accessibility for lakhs of daily commuters, and strengthen Mumbai’s position as a city that can deliver critical infrastructure even under the toughest conditions.
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