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Western Railway to put Andheri back on track

Preparatory work on remodelling both ends of the station to start in a fortnight

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After having crossed the important Borivli hurdle (exchanging land with BMC), Western Railway authorities are now focusing on getting over another operational headache, the Andheri station.

The tracks on southern and northern parts of Andheri station are built in such a way that trains have to restrict their speed while entering and exiting the station. With Andheri being among the most busy stations on the suburban network, and also having long-distance trains stopping there, the overall effect of this on punctuality is enormous.

According to authorities, it would cost Rs31 crore to remodel the two ends of the station. The money for the first phase, Rs10 crore, has already been allotted. According to sources, one of the demands WR had put up when railway minister Suresh Prabhu came calling was that it be allocated Rs21 crore for the second phase.

Shailendra Kumar, divisional railway manager, WR, told dna that the preparatory work on the project should start in a fortnight. "It will greatly improve punctuality on WR's suburban system," he said, adding that the actual work would most likely begin after the work in Borivli is completed early next year.

If construction work is undertaken at both Borivli and Andheri stations simultaneously, that could inordinately delay trains every day due to speed restrictions that would be imposed.

In fact, the need to remodel both ends of Andheri station has been felt for several years now, but the WR could not act upon it for both lack of will as well as funds. "Such remodelling always creates problems for normal operations. So, most officials hesitate taking it up. But it is best to take such issues head on, else it will get more complicated and cumbersome as time passes," Kumar said.

As reported in dna earlier, WR recently acquired 1,500 sqft land from BMC on the north-east tip of Borivli to rectify its Line 6 so that trains coming in from the northern side of Borivli wouldn't have to compete with long-distance trains for platforms. On account of this, almost all suburban trains passing through Borivli get delayed by five to ten minutes every day.

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