CR likely to set Parel terminus plan in motion within weeks :Hindustan Times

Railway officials said tenders for the project could be issued in next 15-20 days

MUMBAI: The Central Railway (CR) is set to get its plan for Parel terminus into motion following an approval from the railway board.

The CR officials are planning to issue tenders for the terminus, part of the ambit i ous Kurla- CST fifth and sixth line project, within a fortnight.

The move i s expected to bring relief to lakhs of passengers who go through a harrowing time maneuvering at Parel station.

A senior CR official, who did not wish to be named, said the railway board approved the plan recently and tenders will be issued soon. “We are in the process of preparing the tender documents and the tender could be floated in the next 15 to 20 days,” he said.

Railway officials said Parel terminus will help to decongest Parel station as well as ease pressure off Dadar station.

Under the project, CR has planned an elevated deck connected the road over bridge with the existing platforms. A new foot over bridge will also be built on the western side of Western Railway (WR), which will be connected to the existing FOB and the elevated deck.

After developing Parel station as terminus, CR can originate or terminate trains from Parel, which is not possible at the moment.

The railway authorities are also planning an additional platform on the western side of the station.

Explaining the plan, a senior official from construction wing of the CR said: “We will have t o acquire a por t i on of l and f rom WR t o make room for the new platforms and tracks.”

Under the Rs924-crore Kurla-CST fifth and sixth line project, the CR has already floated tenders for the work at the Kurla end.

Another senior CR official, on condition of anonymity, said i f everything goes as per plan, the work on Parel terminus could start by next January.

The railway board had given in principal approval for the project long back, but it was on hold after the CR planned to s hif t t he Harbour l i ne towards east side of main line between Dockyard Road and CST, so fifth and sixth lines could be accommodated between Sandhurst Road and CST stations on the Central line.