Passenger safety at Visakhapatnam Railway Station is under scrutiny as overcrowded foot overbridges (FOBs) create significant congestion, particularly during peak train arrivals.

The situation worsened after a crucial six-metre wide south-end FOB, favored by many passengers, was closed in April due to structural tilting caused by corrosion.

The station's remaining two FOBs now bear the brunt of the passenger load. The closure of the south-end FOB, which featured a convenient ramp-type landing near the vehicle entry point on Platform No. 1, has left passengers struggling with increased congestion on the remaining bridges.

The ramp allowed easy access for passengers with trolleys, and an adjacent information display board provided real-time train schedules and platform changes.

B. Ravindra Kumar, a resident of Madhavadhara VUDA Colony, recounted his experience on June 17 after arriving by the New Delhi-Visakhapatnam AP Express. "Once I got on the FOB, I was shaken by the overcrowding.

The vibrations were alarming, and I was scared out of my wits," he said. His concern extends to women and children, who face even greater difficulties navigating the packed bridges.

The middle FOB is also six metres wide, but the north-end FOB is narrower, exacerbating the congestion. The situation highlights the urgent need for additional infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of passengers.

Plans for new FOBs are part of the broader station redevelopment project. Despite initial progress, including a foundation-laying ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2022, the project has been delayed.

According to railway sources, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) halted the finalization of tenders, causing further setbacks.

Visakhapatnam Railway Station was earmarked for redevelopment in 2016, with an estimated project cost of ₹456 crore. However, more than 18 months after the Prime Minister's ceremony, the project has yet to commence, leaving passengers to cope with inadequate facilities.

As the station awaits the much-needed redevelopment and additional FOBs, the safety and convenience of passengers remain pressing concerns.

Until the new infrastructure is completed, the current overcrowding on the remaining bridges will continue to cast a shadow on passenger safety at Visakhapatnam Railway Station.

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