Mumbai: Here's how new local train corridor will take shape

Platform one at Digha Gaon station for trains to Vashi-Panvel

With work on the Kalwa-Airoli connector beginning, Railways has now put an end to the debate of how trains of the new corridor will continue onto the main line after Kalwa by designing a merger similar to that of Wadala where Bandra and Panvel locals alternate seamlessly without crossovers and detentions.

This will not only ensure a link and smooth operation of local trains from Navi Mumbai-Airoli trans-harbour line to the main line towards Kalyan. Explaining the alignment, an official said that after the new Digha Gaon station, the line rises up to cross over the two mail/express lines near Parsik tunnel, cross over the slum colony where a new elevated Kalwa station has been proposed there. The line then moves ahead, bypasses the existing slow and fast lines and takes a turn towards the Kalwa car shed from where it runs parallel to the main lines for some distance and lands in the middle of existing up slow and down slow corridors.

Platform four at Digha Gaon station for trains to Kalwa-Kalyan

At Navi Mumbai as well, platforms one and four have been kept ready for the trains from Kalwa-Airoli corridor to merge seamlessly into the trans-harbour line.
This will ensure two things: that a surface crossing of trains will be completely avoided and that there will be no detentions, bringing about seamless connectivity between Navi Mumbai and Kalyan trains. As of today, no direct rail connection exists between Kalwa and Airoli; passengers require a connection in Thane station. Introducing this link between these two cities would act as a bypass for Thane station and could significantly reduce its congestion. The tentative original cost of the railway line is estimated at Rs 476 crore.

Status

Work on the corridor has been going slow due to opposition from locals and elected representatives. As of now, other works besides the Digha Gaon station that are complete include work of bridges no. 36/4 and 36/5 has been completed and a 45m span girder for the train bridge for line towards Vashi/Panvel. The other girder for the line to Kalwa/Kalyan is also ready and awaiting to be pushed across the highway below. Joint verification of 786 project-affected households at Bhola Nagar and Shivaji Nagar has been held up due to protest by dwellers and local representatives.

The alignment

. After the new Digha Gaon station, the line rises up to cross over the two mail/express lines near Parsik tunnel.
. While cross over the slum colony, a new elevated Kalwa station has been proposed parallel to the Shivaji Talao.
. The line then moves ahead, bypasses the existing lines slow and fast lines and takes a turn towards the Kalwa car shed.
. It then runs parallel to the main lines for some distance and lands in the middle of existing up slow and down slow corridors.