Traffic jam on rail lines in Mumbai from today

Beginning today, there will be a bit of traffic jam on railway lines for the next two months. No train will ply on the north-east (Kasara-Kalyan) section between 3:25pm and 5:20pm for the next two months, except on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The north-east rail section is one of the two crucial railway entry points to Mumbai. It connects Mumbai to Nashik and beyond.

Trains arriving or those that need to pass on the section will be detained at various stations. Suburban trains will also be partially cancelled.

The rail traffic has been halted to facilitate the crucial work of widening the Mumbai-Agra National Highway (NH) 3. The National Highway Authority of India is undertaking this project under phase 3A of the National Highway Development Programme.

A lack of widening of the highways in Maharashtra has been the prime reason for an increasing number of road accidents. A recent government study has led to the finding that Maharashtra is one of the top-ranking states in death figure, when it comes to fatal road accidents.

According to the accident monitoring committee formed by the public works department in 2007, 212 road accidents occur on an average in Maharashtra every day, killing 24 persons and injuring 145.

While several persons are maimed for life, the productivity of several others reduces due to temporary incapacity.

NH-3 has been widened but the portion above the rail tracks needs to be done yet (see image). It passes over rail lines at a stretch near Umbermali cabin between Kasara and Khardi stations, about 120km from Mumbai.

The rail traffic block on both the lines between Khardi and Kasara will be from 3.25pm to 5.20pm between December 22 and February 24 for placing girders for widening of the road over-bridge.

Three trains on their way out from Mumbai will be regulated and rescheduled at various stations.

The Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Manmad Express will be regulated at Khardi from 4.37pm to 5.20pm; the CST-Nagpur Sewagram Express will be regulated at Atgaon from 4.48pm to 5.15pm; and the CST Passenger-Aurangabad Janshatabdi Expresss will be rescheduled to leave CST at 3.50pm instead of 1.50pm.

Two trains coming to Mumbai will be regulated and rescheduled. Gorkhapur-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Gorakhpur Express will be regulated at Igatpuri from 3.30pm to 4.20pm and will arrive at LTT at 7.30pm instead of 6.40pm.

The train will halt at all stations between Kasara and Asangaon for suburban commuters. The Bhusawal-CST Passenger will be regulated at Ghoti station and will arrive at CST at 9.15pm instead of 8.15pm.

There will be partial cancellation of suburban trains too. The Kasara local leaving CST at 12.19pm will remain cancelled between Titwala and Kasara stations.

The Kasara local leaving CST at 1.32pm will remain cancelled between Atgaon and Kasara stations. The CST-bound local leaving Kasara at 3.45pm will remain cancelled between Kasara and Atgaon stations.

The CST-bound local leaving Kasara at 4.53pm will remain cancelled between Kasara and Titwala stations.