Panvel station to get face-lift

Long lines at Panvel station in Navi Mumbai could be a thing of the past. City & Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO), alongwith the Central Railways, have taken up a project of transforming the existing two platform station into a terminus with five platforms, including four tracks.

Passengers from the Konkan railways alight at Panvel to get into Mumbai city. However, the poor frequency of trains, which arrive on an average interval of 15 to 25 minutes is something which has not helped the commuters. In such a situation, construction of new platforms was a much needed affair.

The Panvel terminus will have a 7 metre wide commuter subway, and a 4.9 metre wide foot over bridge.

The transformation of the station is under Belapur-Panvel double line rail project. It has started in February this year and is expected to be completed within 24 months of its commencement.

The cost of the whole project is divided into two packages. The first is of Rs 27.69 crores which is basically for construction purposes.

Package two is of Rs 8 crores which is only for land development, forecourt and parking facilities. CIDCO will take upon itself 66 per cent of the total cost and the rest will be taken up by the Central Railways.

However, the second phase of the work will start only after the clearance of a nearby slum. There is plan to rehabilitate the 1000-odd slum dwellers in the Panvel Municipal Corporation Area.

"Construction has been difficult till now as trains keep coming and the crowd of passengers intermittently disturbs us. Safety of the people is our first priority," said an official of CIDCO. Workers are working almost 12 to 15 hours a day.

Panvel has been the centre of industrial traffic in Navi Mumbai including JNPT. It is an important junction for long distance trains and a terminus for suburban trains from Mumbai Central.

The commissioning of suburban trains from Mumbai to Panvel has given great impetus to the development of Panvel and surrounding areas. The railway station caters to the passenger demand of New Panvel, sector-1 to 19 (East), New Panvel Trans Railway area and Panvel Municipal area.

Panvel has its own importance and once the terminus is in place, it will only be strengthening the transportation network.