Mumbai: Work on two railway lines gets a huge boost

Part of the Thane-Diva corridor seen in Mumbra

Two new developments in the past week seem to have taken the city's under-construction train lines to Level 2. With the girders of the Diva-Thane new line ready, permissions are now awaited from the local administration and highway police to stop Mumbra highway for the laying. On the other hand, with the City Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) handing over the required 919 sqm of land to railways, the new Airoli-Kalwa rail link, too, has got a boost.

While the additional lines of the Diva-Thane corridor have been laid along most of the stretch of the corridor, at one point, the line needs to cross over the busy Mumbra bypass. Two 75-metre-long girders need to be placed over it. The arterial road is used heavily and with there being no alternative, authorities are trying to come up with ideas to keep both, the traffic and the work, going. Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) officials said they need 16-20 hours to place the workers in one go.

In the case of the Airoli-Kalwa link, the CIDCO has transferred the land in Digha village of Navi Mumbai to the MRVC for the elevated corridor. CIDCO's Vice Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Mukherjee said the project will ease pressure on Thane railway station and commuters from Kalyan will be able to travel conveniently.

mid-day had reported last month that the construction of Digha railway station is at an advanced stage. "Of course, the major hurdle will be moving of project-affected people by the government. Once land acquisition and relief and rehabilitation are complete, it will take three years to complete the engineering work," an official said.

919sqm
Area of land transferred to railways