Central Railway has planned an elaborate conceptual plan to convert
the station into a terminus by expanding existing services and starting new ones.
With the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) moving fast on the preparatory work for the Navi Mumbai airport, Central Railway, too, is getting its act together to transform services at Panvel station. An elaborate conceptual plan, which envisages expanding existing services as well as starting new ones to convert the station into a rail terminus, is in the last stages of finalisation.
A senior CR official told DNA: “The plan involves adding crucial features to the railway station such as facilities for examining at least 5-6 rakes per day; constructing establishments where the rakes can be parked safely; adding five new platforms to cater to the massive increase in the services of outstation trains; and creating substantial parking spaces, parcel-loading spaces, linen-washing facilities, catering facilities, etc.”
Further, the official said that two options for building new platforms not too far from the three operational outstation ones have been proposed. “The first option involves constructing three new platforms — one ‘island’ and the other ‘home’. As per the other option, there will be five new platforms with two ‘island’ and one ‘home’.” These platforms will be long enough to cater to at least 24-coach trains.
Land acquisition issues will determine the location of several facilities. A CR official said that a decision regarding the location of the rake examination facility has not been taken yet. It may come up in Mahape or Kalamboli or, if sufficient land is available, in Panvel itself. Facilities to permit daily services to at least 20 major destinations such as Chennai, Delhi, Lucknow, Howrah, Ernakulam, Goa, Ahmedabad, Madgaon, Satara, Sangli etc are being planned.
The official added: “Sufficient trains should begin or end their journeys at Panvel. Only then can we expect to cater to a large number of commuters, especially those from Navi Mumbai who have to travel all the way up to termini in Mumbai to board outstation trains.”
However, it will take CR some time to implement the plan. “We haven’t yet worked out the fund raising part. The comprehensive estimates have not been finalised, either. But we will most likely be able to send this plan to the railway board for approval in the next couple of months. Cost estimation followed by financial vetting and subsequent approval from the general manager will have to be done before we send the proposal to the board for approval,” the official said.
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