Wider footpaths at Hyderabad Metro stations
Designs are being readied but it will take at least three years for construction to be completed.
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metro Rail plans to acquire an additional 15 to 20 feet of space for footpaths at ground level near stations to accommodate large crowds that use the station during heavy rains and festival occasions. This comes in the backdrop of Friday’s stampede at a Mumbai suburban railway station that killed 23 people has impelled Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) managing director N.V.S. Reddy said, “We are going to acquire more land if required and widen the footpaths so that people can be accommodated.”
The Metro Rail stations have footpaths and service roads. At important junctions, skywalks are planned for commuters so that they do not have to descend to street level. Designs are being readied but it will take at least three years for construction to be completed. As the Mumbai tragedy has shown that the biggest challenge is even distribution of crowds. A senior Metro Rail engineer said that the street-level footpath has to be empty.
Commuters must alight from the train and move to the next mode of transport easily, without having to wait — so that space is cleared for passengers from the next train. The inspection carried out by Mr Reddy and a team of engineers made the following observation: On the right side of the Ameerpet interchange station, a 15-ft strip from Sarathi Studio and adjacent timber depots will be acquired to provide better passenger movement. The slab over an open nala has to be extended and railings to be provided for creation of ‘pedestrian refuge’ area.