A new staircase on the western side of the south foot overbridge at Mumbai’s Prabhadevi railway station has opened to commuters, adding an access point intended to ease passenger movement and reduce congestion during peak hours, according to an official statement issued on Sunday.
The staircase was completed within 80 days after the project received the required No Objection Certificate from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Railway officials said the facility would improve access to the station’s platform and support smoother entry and exit for commuters using the busy suburban railway station.
The project became possible after an existing BMC toilet block at the site was dismantled. The additional staircase was then constructed in the space made available on the western side of the south foot overbridge. Officials said the work was completed within the stipulated period despite restrictions at the site.
Construction was carried out in a narrow stretch located between a road and the railway tracks. This limited the space available for construction activity, movement of machinery and storage of materials. Working hours were also restricted because night-time construction was not permitted in view of nearby residential buildings.
The railway statement said the site contained several underground electrical and utility cables that had to be identified and protected during the work. Existing water supply pipelines also obstructed construction activity, requiring additional precautions and coordination to avoid damage and ensure uninterrupted services.
The project required coordination between railway officials, the BMC and the executing agency, particularly because the work involved both the removal of the civic utility structure and construction near active railway infrastructure. The authorities said careful planning and sustained efforts allowed the staircase to be completed within the 80-day period.
Officials expect the new access point to facilitate passenger circulation during busy periods and provide relief from congestion at Prabhadevi station. The opening comes as Mumbai’s suburban railway stations continue to manage high commuter volumes within constrained footprints, where small changes to access and circulation can affect how passengers enter, exit and move between station facilities.
The new staircase is now open to the public, with railway officials identifying improved commuter movement and reduced peak-hour congestion as the immediate objectives of the facility.
