Udhna railway station in Surat has become home to India’s first steel subway connecting platforms, installed using the track cut-and-cover method, a significant milestone in railway passenger safety infrastructure.
The prefabricated, arch-shaped steel tunnel measures 12 metres in length, 4.8 metres in width and 2.7 metres in height. Built by L&T, the structure was installed beneath active railway tracks within just eight hours, with no major train schedules affected during the operation.
The track cut-and-cover method involves cutting the track for a scheduled duration, excavating the earth below, positioning the steel arch and refilling the pit before restoring tracks to operational status. The process significantly reduces the time required compared to traditional Reinforced Cement Concrete footover bridges or tunnels.
Udhna station witnesses a daily footfall of around 10,000 passengers, with peak periods seeing up to 30,000 a day. The station serves large numbers of textile industry migrants travelling to Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Odisha, making safe platform connectivity a critical safety requirement.
Divisional Railway Manager Pankaj Singh said the subway will eliminate hazardous at-grade crossings on the bypass line, reducing accident risk in an area with curved tracks and limited visibility. Western Railway officials noted that if the pilot proves successful, the technology could be adopted at other stations and busy rail sections across the country.
