Sena proposes new station between Thane & Mulund, gets positive response from CM

In the backdrop of the Elphinstone Road station tragedy, in which 23 people lost their lives, the Shiv Sena has proposed the creation of a new railway station between Mulund and Thane.

The Thane-Mulund stretch is one of the most crowded on the city’s suburban rail network and in dire need of upgrade.

According to a report in The Hindu, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday held a meeting with Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) Minister Eknath Shinde to iron out the details about the new station.

“We have received a positive response from the Chief Minister. We want people coming from far-flung areas such as Vartak Nagar, Wagle Estate, and Ghodbandar to get maximum benefits,” Shinde was quoted saying by the daily.

“Besides, they will be able to skip commuting via Thane city and directly proceed towards these areas if a station comes up just after Mulund,” he added.

The new station will decongest Thane station, which is used by about 7 lakh commuters everyday. “The new station will ensure passengers do not have to hang outside the trains during peak hours,” said Shinde.

The station, likely to come up on an 18-acre plot near Mulund, will cost railways an estimated Rs 150 crore.

The Revenue Department-owned land was originally reserved for a hospital, but the plan will be modified to accommodate the station. The government will also have to get rid of the encroachments before work on the new station can begin.

Apart from proposing the creation of a new station, Shinde and other Sena ministers also demanded that hawkers be removed from station premises and important structures like foot-over bridges be widened.

The station proposal, meanwhile, has been forwarded to the Health Department, following which it will be sent to the Railway Ministry for approval.