Kelve station, about 80km from Churchgate on the Virar-Dahanu section, has reported the highest per cent growth in passenger traffic this year. None of the other stations on the line have shown such a tremendous growth pattern in one year.
If you had doubts that Vasai-Virar belt is growing faster than any other part of the city, latest official studies and statistics from the Western Railway offer all the proof.
Kelve station, about 80km from Churchgate on the Virar-Dahanu section, has reported the highest per cent growth in passenger traffic this year. None of the other stations on the line have shown such a tremendous growth pattern in one year.
“Among all the stations, Kelve Road has shown the highest significant rise in number of passengers of nearly 22% followed by Naigaon at 13.33%, then Vangaon at 9.47% and Boisar at 8.64%,” said Sharat Chandrayan, chief WR public relations manager.
“There has been a real estate boom in the area and property prices have seen the highest growth there in the past few years,” AK Jayeshwar of Mauli Real Estate consultants said.
“Kelve is also a popular picnic spot and has a fine beach just 5km away from the station,” he added.
Naigaon, about 47.5km from Churchgate and the first station after the Vasai creek, has also seen an unprecedented growth in passengers.
“Mira Road is saturated and developers are moving southwards to Naigaon. At Vangaon, there are industrial hubs and at Boisar there is a low-cost housing project by the Tatas offering 1,000 units,” another consultant Jiten Shah said.
Suburban trains on WR as of now ply on the 60km distance between Churchgate and Virar, which had led to massive urbanisation and formation of small townships along the border of the city in Virar and Vasai.
Railways has now announced that the technical work on the line is complete and direct local trains from Churchgate to Dahanu or between Virar and Dahanu can begin anytime this year.
The 60-km stretch between Virar and Dahanu has seven stations, including Vaitarna, Saphale, Kelve Road, Palghar, Umroli, Boisar and Vangaon.
“A large amount of unexplored land will now open for development and a large number of construction and housing projects have already lined up in the area,” he said.
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