17 January,2022 07:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
Kalwa level crossing gate, that detained several trains on the Central Railway main line, was shut down on Saturday
The Kalwa level crossing gate that delayed and detained hundreds of trains every single day on the main line finally shut down forever, paving the way for faster running of trains. Local citizens, however, complained that the new Kalwa bridge that opened on Saturday is a dismal civic job with no lights installed, patchy work and politicians fighting for credit.
"The bridge is an example of shoddy planning. It opens in the direction opposite to residential habitation, so citizens will need to take a detour to use the bridge. Nevertheless, it will be helpful. The real inauguration of the bridge was done by citizens on December 12, 2021 when they started using it because the gate had been closed for some maintenance. The true credit of the bridge goes to all those citizens who have been instrumental in following up with the authorities persistently for the completion of the bridge. When will the citizens get the credit?" said Siddhesh Desai, vice-president of the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh, one of the oldest and biggest passenger associations.
"The bridge was sanctioned in 2006 and the railway completed its work in 2017, but there were delays in land acquisition and other issues. The bridge is finally ready. But the work is patchy and there are no lights installed yet. Quite shamelessly, local politicians inaugurated it and are even fighting for credit," another citizen said.
Thane civic officials said the bridge was still being given finishing touches and it will get lights and all other amenities soon. The work has been executed under 50:50 cost sharing between the Central Railway and the Thane civic body. Accordingly, the civic body has constructed approaches for road overbridge.
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The level crossing gate at Kalwa, which detained the maximum number of trains on CR's Mumbai suburban railway, was also shut down on Saturday night.
"With the commissioning of Kharegaon road overbridge, the Kalwa level crossing gate is permanently closed, paving way for smooth Mumbai suburban train operations,'' confirmed Shivaji Sutar, CR's chief public relations officer.
2006
Year when the new Kalwa bridge was sanctioned
