Mumbai
Updated : Mar 19, 2014, 08:00 AM IST
Giving commuters on Kalyan-Kasara route—one of country's most congested rail routes—the much-needed relief, the plan to lay a third line between these two stations is finally on its way to becoming a reality.
Central Railway has allotted Rs 35 crore to build seven major bridges on this route as part of the project. The construction of these bridges and remodelling of a road-overbridge between Thakurli and Kalyan is the most important facet of this project. Once they are done, the plan for the third line on this 67-km stretch can easily be executed.
The Kalyan-Kasara route has a huge number of suburban trains competing with a host of long-distance trains moving towards Nashik and from there onto the north and eastern parts of the country. This is in addition to the 20-odd freight trains that consume space and time on the twin lines.
As per CR records, 147 suburban trains ply these routes—34 to Kasara, 39 to Aasangaon and 74 to Titwala. "The passenger load to Titwala, Asangaon and Kasara is growing phenomenally. There is a lot of construction going on in that area and the need for a third line was felt at least a decade ago. But it's better late than never," said a senior CR official.
In addition to this, 71 long-distance trains going to places in UP and Bihar, the north-east and Kolkata use the 49 paths—departure slots—every day on these lines. "Thus it's a very congested route. A third line will reduce the load on these two lines," said the official.
The project has been delayed due to dilly-dallying on the part of the railway ministry. The ministry, as some officials put it, has not been able to fathom the growth in population and the resultant passenger density in the metropolitan regions surrounding Mumbai.
CR first proposed the third line in 2009. The estimated cost then was around Rs 252 crore. Now it will require more that Rs 600 crore to complete it.
"The idea is to build the bridges and modify the road-overbridge in the next 30 months, and then as funds come in, to start work on the rail line. If all goes according to plan, the third line should be up and running in the next three to four years," said the official.
Trains on Kalyan-Kasara route:
Suburban – 147
* To Kasara – 34
* To Asangaon – 39
* To Titwala – 74
Long-distance
* Departures – 49
* Destinations – 71.