48 rail passenger groups seek faster work on Badlapur-Karjat line

Railway commuters in the Mumbai and Thane region have raised old grievances again. Representatives of railway passenger organisations met Maharashtra BJP state president Ravindra Chavan at Dombivli Gymkhana. The meeting discussed the capacity of Mumbai local trains, passenger safety and direct connectivity between different areas at length. The organisations also raised several important demands, including speeding up stalled railway projects.

Representatives of 48 railway passenger organisations from the Thane-Mumbai region paid a courtesy visit to Ravindra Chavan at Dombivli Gymkhana. The meeting discussed several issues related to the Mumbai local train system. Given the steadily rising number of passengers, the organisations sought an increase in local train capacity, safer travel facilities for passengers and direct railway connectivity between different areas.

The organisations demanded early completion of the Kalwa-Airoli rail link, which would give passengers in the Thane and Navi Mumbai areas more direct railway connectivity. They also demanded that the Badlapur-Karjat railway line project be speeded up. Developing this line could prove important for increasing railway traffic capacity in the area.

The passenger organisations also demanded that the project to build a third and fourth line on the Kalyan-Kasara railway route be expedited, citing the growing burden on the Mumbai local system and the need to increase capacity on this route. They also demanded that a shuttle service be started between Thane-Karjat and Thane-Kasara, to give passengers on this route a more direct journey.

They also sought the use of a modern signalling system to reduce the headway, or gap, between local train services. Upgrading the signalling system would allow better use of the existing railway line. The organisations also demanded increased direct railway connectivity between Diva, Vasai and Panvel, to reduce the need for passengers to change routes.

The meeting also raised the demand to increase railway infrastructure capacity from Kalyan Junction to CSMT. Citing the rising passenger load on Mumbai locals, the organisations said infrastructure expansion was needed. All these demands were placed through a memorandum, seeking safer and more direct travel for passengers and faster progress on stalled railway projects.

Ravindra Chavan accepted the detailed memorandum on the passenger organisations' demands and responded positively to the issues raised. He assured that the government would take up the necessary advocacy on passengers' problems and try to resolve them as soon as possible. Chavan also assured that he would pursue the matter at the relevant level to increase railway capacity, provide passengers safer and more direct travel, and speed up pending railway projects. Also present at the meeting were Kalyan-Dombivli deputy mayor Rahul Damle, Bhalchandra Lohkare, Nawre Kaka, Madhutai Kotian, Latatai Argade, Nandkumar Deshmukh, Anitatai, Vandanatai Sonawane, Siddhesh Desai, Aniket Ghamandi and several others.