Panvel-Diva rail section turns 50

It was a nostalgic moment for 87-year-old Chandrasekhar Virkar, who was the chief guest at the golden jubilee celebrations of Panvel-Diva rail section at Panvel station on Saturday morning.

The Panvel-Diva rail section has completed 50 glorious years of its existence, wherein it witnessed a good deal: the first goods train in 1964 to numerous super fast trains today, including the Rajdhani running over it.

Virkar was one of the at the Panvel-Diva rail section when the first goods train chugged off in the period between 1962 and 1964. The rail section was commissioned in 1964 by the Indian Railways.

The 87-year-old arrived at the function in his wheelchair but could not speak much because of his illness. Virkar worked in the goods department in the 1960s.

Around 200 people gathered at the railway station to welcome the driver and guard of  the Diva-Roha passenger train that plied between Panvel and Diva. A number of old passengers also came in the event.

“We welcomed the driver and guard of the train and offered them sweets and greeted them on the completion of 50 years of the section,” said Dr Bhakti Dave, president, Panvel Pravashi Sangh.

The foundation stone of the section was laid in 1962 by the then minister for railways SK Patil.

The section became ready in just two years. After eight years, the station consultative committee was set up for the development of station, paving the way for the passage of passenger trains.

Over the period, a lot of development has taken place here, including the doubling of tracks, electrification of the route and introduction of a number of long-route trains.

On the occasion, the Panvel Pravashi Sangh listed some demands that include interlinking of Harbour line with the main line in Panvel, the starting of Panvel-Khopoli section, increasing the number of platforms at Panvel station and originating long route train from Panvel.