CR dilly-dally over station transfer : Hindustan Times

SLOW PROCESS

Lack of facilities at 14 railway stations hassling commuters for years; Cidco puts ball in railways’ court

CBD BELAPUR: It has been more than a year since the agreement to transfer the all railway stations in the city for maintenance purpose from the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) to Central Railway was signed. There has however not been any positive response by the railways to accept the transfer of the police stations.

Vashi railway station sees thousands of commuters every day, but it lacks in basic facilities such as no proper drinking water, leaking roof and no ambulance facility.

There are 10 railway stations on Vashi-Panvel route and five on the Vashi-Thane route making a total of 15 railway stations in the city. Cidco has contributed 67% to the cost of construction of these railway stations. For all these years, the buildings were under Cidco.

The differences over jurisdiction have affected the repair and maintenance of the buildings.

Leaking roof, no ambulance facility and no proper drinking water at platforms are the common problems in all stations. Commuters are inconvenienced by the lack of basic facilities and have been demanding the transfer of the 14 stations to the railways for better maintenance.

Rishabh Patel, a commuter, said: “The condition of the railway stations in the city is worsening by the day. It is high time someone took responsibility.”

A Cidco official said that Panvel railway station was already under the railways.

“Last year, Cidco and Central Railway reached an agreement to transfer all railway stations on harbour and trans-harbour routes to the railways by March 2015,” he said.

“It was agreed that one of the 14 railway stations will be transferred on a trial basis. It will then be followed by transfer of other railway stations in phases.”

The Central Railway was supposed to select the railway station for the pilot project. “But it has not been done so far,” added the official.

A source said that differences have cropped up between Cidco and railways over advertising rights. “Cidco had given advertising and parking rights to some companies. This has been a hurdle in the transfer process,” said the source.

Both the Cidco and railway officials said the transfer process is being worked upon.

Cidco vice-chairman and managing director Sanjay Bhatia said: “The agreement deadline has expired but there has been no transfer of the railway stations. We are following up with the railways to expedite the process and are hopeful of an early resolution of the issue.”