TOI : Virar-Dahanu locals by mid-2009 : Sept 10, 2007
Virar-Dahanu locals by mid-2009
Devraj Dasgupta I TNN
Mumbai: With the quadrupling of tracks between Borivli and Virar over, the
Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation has now decided to develop the last stretch
from Virar to Dahanu for suburban services.
Last week, bids were invited from contractors to construct terminal
facilities at Dahanu Road, the last station on the Western Railway (WR)
situated 125 km from Churchgate. The last 65-km stretch has eight stations
including Vaitarna, Saphale, Kelve Road, Palghar, Umroli, Boisar, Vangaon
and Dahanu Road.
Although WR’s local services map always showed the suburban route
extending right up to Dahanu Road, it was only on paper. The railways as of
now do not have tracks or stations to suit suburban operations. Working with
a stiff target of putting the basic infrastructure in place by December
2008, the MRVC feels trains could run up to Dahanu Road from 2009 if targets
are met on time.
P C Sehgal, managing director of MRVC, said availability of new rakes
from October and four tracks up to Virar are a perfect reason to start
development of the last stretch. “Sooner or later, sizeable population will
go to stay in these areas as suburbs till Virar get saturated. With
connectivity up to Virar fully developed, its better to be ready with
facilities before demand peaks,” he said.
MRVC has distributed the entire work on the Virar-Dahanu section into
three phases. In the first phase, Sehgal said the existing goods shed at
Dahanu Road will be dismantled to help create terminal facilities.
“The present goods shed is coming in the way of developing a new station
and other suburban facilities. A new goods shed with modern amenities is
being built on the opposite side,” he said. The new goods shed with
attached office, signalling, road and parking would be finished by December
this year, he added.
In the second phase, the work of developing terminal facilities for
reversing trains will be taken up. At the same time, MRVC will construct new
platforms (3,4,5) for suburban services. As of now, Dahanu Road has only two
platforms to cater to outstation trains.
Also on the cards are a new foot overbridge, stabling lines to park
trains, booking office, stationmaster’s office and public address and train
indicator systems. MRVC will also take up work on wayside stations enroute
to Dahanu Road in the second phase. “Work on the Dahanu Road station and
facilities to terminate/start trains from there should be ready by December
2008. The tender was floated last week itself,” said the official.
In the last phase, WR will have to widen the existing track that is only
suitable for outstation trains. The 10.6-ft tracks will have to be widened
to 12 ft to run Mumbai’s suburban trains. “This will take some time,” said
an MRVC official.
devraj.dasgupta@timesgroup.com
Publication:Times Of India Mumbai; Date:Sep 10, 2007; Section:Times City;
Page Number:3