Indian Railways Builds India’s First Steel Pedestrian Subway in Surat in Just 8 Hours

Surat: In a key milestone for passenger safety and modern construction technology, Indian Railways completed the construction of the country’s first steel pedestrian subway using corrugated steel arch technology at Udhna railway station in Surat under the Mumbai Division of Western Railway. The project, executed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T), was completed in just eight hours, minimising disruption to railway operations.

According to Pankaj Singh, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Mumbai Division, the pedestrian underpass was built by temporarily removing a 10-metre section of the railway track at Udhna railway station. The subway has been built exclusively for pedestrians. At the Udhna bypass line, people were previously forced to cross railway tracks on foot, where the curved alignment and limited visibility posed a serious risk of accidents.

The DRM said the project marks a major shift from conventional methods used for constructing railway underpasses. Traditionally, Indian Railways has relied on either the cut-and-cover method or box pushing technology, in which large reinforced concrete boxes are pushed beneath railway tracks using hydraulic jacks. Both techniques require the installation of relieving girders, prolonged excavation beneath the tracks, and extensive construction work that often takes several months, costs crores of rupees, and disrupts train operations.

Explaining the new construction process, Singh said engineers first removed a 10-metre section of the existing railway track and excavated a large pit using JCBs and other heavy machinery. A pre-fabricated circular steel arch structure was then lifted into place using a crane and securely installed on a reinforced concrete foundation. Once the steel tunnel was locked into position, the pit was backfilled, and the railway track was restored, enabling the entire operation to be completed within eight hours.

Railway officials said the successful use of corrugated steel arch technology is expected to pave the way for faster, safer, and more cost-effective construction of pedestrian subways across Indian Railways while significantly reducing disruption to train services. DeshGujarat