23 November,2016 11:10 AM IST | | Shashank Rao
Naming or renaming of roads or flyovers or stations has been a favourite pastime of politicians. And the latest to this list is the proposed Oshiwara station, which is expected to be inaugurated by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on November 27
Oshiwara station is under construction and is expected to be inaugurated by railway minister Suresh Prabhu on Nov 27. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi
Naming or renaming of roads or flyovers or stations has been a favourite pastime of politicians. And the latest to this list is the proposed Oshiwara station, which is expected to be inaugurated by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on November 27. Local politicos have called for its renaming to Ram Mandir station.
The railway ministry has washed its hands off the issue and already written to the state government and home ministry, saying they can take a call on it.
Demand in writing
On November 15, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Food and Drugs Administration, Vidya Thakur, an MLA from Goregaon, had written to CM Devendra Fadnavis on this. The local BJP unit has been demanding that the station's name be changed as there is a famous Ram Mandir in the vicinity.
Thakur's letter states: "The vicinity near Goregaon, where this station is coming up, is called as Ram Mandir, and so, the locals have demanded renaming of the new station as Ram Mandir (instead of Oshiwara). We want you to send the demand to the Home ministry."
A copy of the letter is with mid-day, which had first reported about it on June 1 - BJP, Sena want new station at Oshiwara to be named Ram Mandir.
Aglaa station...
Oshiwara station is located between Jogeshwari and Goregaon stations and is expected to cater to the Harbour line that is proposed to be extended to Goregaon from Andheri. For a long time, the new station was stuck due to lack of a road overbridge, which was then provided in May. On May 2, mid-day had reported âThanks to Goregaon flyover, Oshiwara to become Western Railway's 37th station'.
But even after it's thrown open, WR commuters won't be able to use it. The tracks going towards Oshiwara station and its platforms are meant for Harbour line and aren't connected to the WR slow line yet.
