With Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw granting “in-principle” approval for a new suburban railway station between Thane and Mulund, commuters may soon see major relief at the overcrowded Thane railway station, where passenger load is expected to reduce significantly.

The proposed station will come up on 14.83 acres of land belonging to the Regional Mental Hospital in Thane and is part of the Thane Smart City project.