Work on installing escalators is slow but the railways hope it will be completed in a month.
Commuters at the Kengeri Railway Station will continue using the stairs, and find other ways of reaching the platforms as only one escalator has been installed so far, but is yet to start functioning.
Construction work on the escalators began in April 2023 and was supposed to be completed in a month. However, one escalator has been installed on Platform One while earthing work began on Platform Two on Sept 16. No work has started on Platform Three.
Shuchita, a commuter who uses the station very often, carrying heavy luggage at times complained about how slowly the work progressed. She said that escalators would make it easier for people like her.
A shop owner at the railway station said that he does not see the laborers every day and says that is why there has not been much progress.
According to the information from the Construction Department of South Western Railways, the tender for escalators was floated in November 2022.
The Station Master of Kengeri Railway Station said that the escalator installation involves multiple processes like earthing work and other technicalities. Johnson Lifts & Escalators is providing the infrastructure. The station was directed to start the construction process by making sure that no trains face problem due to the work. The construction is expected to be completed in a month, he added.
The authorities from Electrical Department of South Western Railways said that they are waiting for the civil infrastructure work to be completed, only then can they start their work. Eshwar Reddy, the contractor for civil works said that 80 percent of the work is done and the rest is expected to be completed within two weeks.
Soumyo Shanta, a civil engineer, said that there can be multiple reasons for the work being slowed like lack of funding or delay in technical supervision.
He said, “The time span for the construction of escalators can go from two weeks to one month, depending upon the coordination between the divisional engineer and the contractor.”
