vasai

[savio_dcunha]

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/EVAL/navigator.asp?AW=1183118017109


Railways completes decade-old journey, quadrupling work ends on Borivli-Virar route, trials on June 28, 29


TIMES NEWS NETWORK



Mumbai: For lakhs of Mumbaikars, the wait for an easy commute beyond the suburb of Borivli has finally ended. Western Railway (WR) on Tuesday formally announced that quadrupling of tracks on the 30-km stretch from Borivli to Virar is over.
The two new lines, first proposed in the early 90’s, are ready to handle additional services which are likely to be introduced in the first week of July.
The Rs 510-crore project has missed several deadlines in the past despite lobbying by several MPs and MLAs representing the region. The project which effectively got off the ground in 2002 after years of surveys and promises, in fact gathered momentum this summer after WR assured Bombay High Court that it would complete the long-pending work by June 30.
The new tracks leading up to Virar in many ways signifies the emphasis on providing better services for a growing population in the distant suburbs north of Mumbai. As a natural fallout, the project would decongest traffic within the city on Borivli-Churchgate trains.
Residents of Dahisar, Mira Road, Bhayander and beyond, who have been spearheading the campaign for early completion of work, are all of the view that the new lines would greatly ease the difficult travelling conditions on the route (see box). Protests have been held on various occasions to focus on the issue. “December 10, 2005 was a turning point when we held a satyagraha from Dahisar to Virar to highlight the plight of commuters,’’ said K K Prakashan.
Most of the work on the line was executed in the last one year. Engineering and logistical challenges included resettlement of slumdwellers, construction of two concrete bridges spanning 1,400 metres and 550 metres over the Vasai creek, and the laying of new railway platforms.
Satya Prakash, Divisional Railway Manager of WR’s Mumbai division, said goods trains would be initially run to test the new tracks on June 28 and 29. “The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) will board an empty rake to test the tracks on July 3 and 4. Once the CRS issues a safety certificate, the lines will be opened for regular passenger traffic,” said Prakash.
Prakash said WR would start by running 20 new services everyday from July. This will include two services between Churchgate-Virar, five services between Bandra-Virar, seven on Andheri-Virar, two between Andheri-Vasai and four shuttles between Borivli to Virar. “Many more services can be added on this path once new trains under Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-I) arrive,” he said.
The DRM said General Manager of WR would be visiting the Integrated Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, for a final inspection of the new trains ready for technical tests and trials.
P C Sehgal, MD of Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, confirmed that the new rakes would come out of ICF, Chennai, by June-end. “There would be tests for a month in Chennai itself. The new rakes should reach Mumbai by July 25,” he said. Once in Mumbai, the first new train will have to go through tests on the suburban tracks and get certified by RDSO, Lucknow, which is a centralised body for approving new trains. The new trains, 157 in all, should start coming in batches for passenger use from October first week, said Sehgal.

MILESTONES ON THE WAY

Construction of two bridges of 1.4 km and 0.5 km North and South of the Vasai creek.
Land filling on Panju island, the area between the two bridges on Vasai creek. Locals had prevented WR from removing soil for earthwork on Panju
island. WR had to transport soil under police protection for the land-filling at Panju island. Remodelling of Borivli station to merge the four existing lines with the two new ones coming from Virar. It involved a mega-block of four days when 300 manhours were spent to integrate the new tracks with the old. Rs 25 crore was spent on this work alone Rehabilitation of a leprosy patients home at Dahisar. The project got delayed by six months as leprosy patients had refused to move elsewhere. Finally they relented and moved to new flats built by MMRDA.

C R OW D R E AC T I O N


It is a welcome step, but I am not going to believe this till I see it with my own eyes. We had had a meeting with railway officials last month and we had stressed on the fact that they should introduce a Virar local every 5 minutes as against the 12-15 minute frequency now.

KK Prakashan | ACTIVIST, DEMOCRATIC YOUTH FEDERATION OF INDIA

This is all thanks to the court’s directives and the media’s efforts to highlight the problem. It was Justice Lodha’s order which spurred railways into action. They have completed work for over 10 years within 10 months. The new lines will bring tremendous relief for our commuters.

Uday Shetty | PETITIONER IN BOMBAY HIGH COURT FOR SPEEDING UP THE WORK





The new bridge across the Vasai creek is the one on the right

[vaibhavsalunke]

Good to know that the work is officially completed.
Atleast now the commuters can manage a safe journey (hopefully)
Thanks for covering that article savio.
Cheers!
_________________
A Silver is never won, its the Gold that is lost....!

Vaibhav J Salunke
Blog : http://vaibhav-world.blogspot.com/

[max_mits]

thanks for the good news savio....
people hard work has paid back.....
_________________
Thanks & Regards
Max.......

[vasai]

Savio, Thanks for the link and news. Appreciate your following up on this issue. Like they say we have to see it actually begin to work to believe. But looks like we are getting closer to reality.

Thanks again.

[max_mits]

Check out the article abt quadrupling of tracks....

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=knowmumbai&section=aboutmumbai&subpage=article&sectid=11&contentid=20070703201616984d301c6b0
_________________
Thanks & Regards
Max.......

[vasai]

Everyone needs to read this article,

http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2007/july/160443.htm

especially this lines,

"Prakashan along with other activists such as Pankaj Singh,
Venugopal Nair, Gautam Biswas, Jitendra Vora, Mohan Kokane and
Chandrasekhar Nair were arrested during the rail satyagraha, which led
to violence, including a police lathicharge on them on December 22, 2005.

Though the activists maintain that they never indulged in violence, they
were in jail for 12 days and are still fighting the case."



Note that the paper says that they are still fighting the case. Any thoughts on this issue?

[max_mits]

Admin wht the paper means to say by still fighting the case…..the tracks are already laid down….r they fighting for frequency of the trains??
_________________
Thanks & Regards
Max.......

[vasai]

[christian495]

I am really greatful to these unsung heroes who fought for a right cause. Hats off to them.

The Quadrupling has been done. Lets see how soon and how frequent they start a schedule on these tracks.

But I really wonder if all this will bear fruit cause there are a great many population shifting bases beyond borivali.
_________________
Patience is not a virtue. It is a waste of time.

LEEDS@rediffmail.com

[max_mits]

check out the link.....
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/WR_to_upgrade_Dadar_station/articleshow/2209007.cms
_________________
Thanks & Regards
Max.......

[bjp16m]

hi admin i received ur reply how much it would cost for 5 or 6 gunthas of land in vasai pls let me know

[kuwaiti]

Hi Friends,

A very interesting topic this is. I had posted my reply to this kind of a debate earlier and I still stand by my word. U can have even 25 tracks and still there will be no use UNLESS, a parallel roadway is built at the very earliest. Building a Parallel Roadway would enable alternate means of transport and this ONLY would release the pressure from the Railways. A Parallel Roadway even at this moment would be possible, as there are not so many buildings near the Railway Lines between Virar and Dahisar(after Dahisar, there are Roads parallel to the railway lines). I hope some good sense will prevail and someone someday in the Govt. would care to look into my suggestion.

Ciao.

[vasai]

Good to see you back, Kuwaiti. Hope you are doing good. I dont know where Max and Vaibhav disappeared.

[kuwaiti]

Hi Admin,

Thanks mate, i am always around. was a bit tied up with things at work. I still make it a point to read all the comments and the new topics of discussions(sadly there are'nt many nowadays). I am sure Max and Vaibhav are definitely around and will get back soon. Take care buddy.

Warmest regards from Kuwait.

[vasai]

Hi Kuwaiti - Thanks for your reply. I was busy for past few months, first with vacation and then getting over it. Max has also replied today, he just wanted to tell us even he is still around.

Hopefully when you are in Vasai next time, we can meet. Until then keep this as meeting point.

Regards.