09 November,2016 11:18 AM IST | | Shashank Rao
Authorities demolish illegal bar, another structure near Jogeshwari station that had stopped the Harbour line extension for over two years; new deadline is March 2017
On November 5, officials demolished the structures, removed the rubble, dumped it in trucks and took it away, all under police protection
You can expect work on the Rs 103 crore Andheri-Goregaon Harbour line to start soon. Authorities have demolished the illegal bar and another structure near Jogeshwari station because of which the line had remained stuck for over two years.
On November 5, officials demolished the structures, removed the rubble, dumped it in trucks and took it away, all under police protection. Two trucks, one JCB machine and police vans were pressed into service for the demolition.
Out of the way
Officials said the demolished structures - New Rishi Desi Bar and another near it - were next to Jogeshwari station (W) bus depot and adjacent to platform one. There is a level-crossing gate that was shut for vehicular movement and people, but in mid-October it was opened, as there was too much pressure on the foot overbridge (FOB).
There had even been a court case going on the illegal edifices with the railways saying it needed the land for the proposed extension of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus-Andheri Harbour line till Goregaon, which was supposed to be completed in May 2014.
Now, Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation officials have kept a deadline of March 2017.
Presently, Jogeshwari station comes both sides when travelling in Churchgate-bound trains, ie people can alight from both sides of a compartment, either on platform 1 or 2.
Sources said the island platform connecting 1 and 2 would be removed and platform 1 would be extended by six metres towards Churchgate-end with a landing connecting it to the existing FOB.
This will allow the Harbour line to go from behind platform 1 on the west to the new concourse constructed for Harbour line trains at Jogeshwari, which is towards Borivli. Once this line is ready, trains from Panvel or CST will go all the way up to Goregaon. In the next phase, the line will be extended till Borivli.
