Finally, Mumbra, Central Railway (CR) has started working on its plan to elongate platforms at 34 suburban stations that could accommodate 15-car trains.
How Did This Happen?
Interestingly, the news of this development came after two months of the incident in which five people died and eight others were injured after falling off two overcrowded trains crossing each other at Mumbra, Central Railway (CR).
This development will include two stations on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Kalyan fast corridor, eight stations on the Thane-Kalyan slow corridor, and 24 stations on the Kalyan-Kasara/Karjat/Khopoli route, according to officials aware of developments.
All in all, 26 platforms at these 34 stations will be elongated under this initiative.
Further, the two stations identified on the CSMT-Kalyan fast corridor will be ready to accommodate 15-car trains by the end of August, said Dr Swapnil Nila, chief public relations officer, CR.
For the rest of the stations, their internal deadline is August 31, but the work will be completed by the end of the monsoon at the latest according to the CR officials.
The Railway Board chairman and chief executive Satish Kumar directed CR authorities to increase the number of 15-coach services to ensure a safer and convenient journey last week during his visit to Mumbai.
All this started with the June 9 incident at Mumbra once again highlighted the perennial issue of overcrowding in local trains.
What Is The Plan?
Under this initiative, all the stations on the slow corridor between Thane and Kalyan will be readied to operate 15-car trains, corresponding to a 25% increase in carrying capacity, officials said.
The list of stations include Thane, Kalwa, Mumbra, Diva, Kopar, Dighe, Thakurli, and Kalyan.
So far, the platforms for 15-car local trains are available on the fast corridor at CSMT (platform 7), Byculla (platforms 3 and 4), Dadar (platforms 9A, 11, and 12), Kurla (platforms 5 and 6), Ghatkopar (platforms 3 and 4), Bhandup (platforms 3 and 4), Mulund (platforms 3 and 4), Thane (platforms 5, 6, 7, and 8), Dombivli (platforms 4 and 5) and Kalyan (platforms 1, 1A, 4, 5, 6, and 7).
A senior CR official said, “Extending the length of platforms, shifting signal poles and overhead cables (OHE) at the stations between Thane and Kalyan is first on the list of works. The initial preparatory work will begin, for which tenders are being called. Considering the on-ground constraints, it is certainly a tough project to take up, but this will certainly ease crowding,” on the condition of anonymity.
Presently, the work to extend platforms is at various stages such as Mumbra and Vikhroli, tenders have been called for the overhead cables work, which includes shifting OHE poles, signalling systems and tracks to create more space for extending existing platforms, reportedly.
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