Mumbai: Villagers forced to walk 8 km after WR shuts down crossing

Villagers seen requesting the local police to open up the phatak, so that they can travel to the other side. Pics/Hanif Patel

The shutting down of a century-old railway crossing that connected Vasai Road station to Naigaon, has inconvenienced hundreds of locals from nearly 20 villages in the vicinity.

The crossing was mostly used by farmers and fishermen as a shortcut to travel between Vasai and Naigaon. Locals claim that they now have to walk 8 to 11 km daily, when earlier, they'd easily reach their destination within five or 10 minutes.

The Western Railway shut the crossing on March 13 this year, nearly a month before the state government imposed lockdown-like restrictions across Maharashtra.

This crossing, identified as Umelman Phatak Number-36, is located between Vasai Road and Naigaon stations. There are nearly 20 villages in the area, including Hampur, Manikpur, Rajavali, Tivri, Brahmapur, and Panju. Villagers said that over 600 people would use the crossing to reach their farms, fishing ponds and salt pan lands, on the opposite side.

Speaking with mid-day, former corporator and Vasai resident Vivek Patil said that most of the villagers here are dependent on farming or fishing. "This was the best shortcut for them. I wrote a letter to the state government and Western Railway, requesting them to allow villagers to use the crossing. If that's not possible, they can at least construct a bridge or underground road. It will help villagers save their time. Right now, they have to walk several kilometres."

Jitendra Mhatre, 43, who resides in Umelman village, owns a rice farm and fishing pond in Vasai West. "Due to the increasing number of thefts in the area, I'd visit my farm at least thrice daily. Ever since the railway shut the crossing, I have had to travel 11 km daily to reach my farm."

Another farmer from Umelman, Pandurang Laxman Patil, 50, who is facing a similar inconvenience, says that taking an auto-rickshaw is not an option, because they are charged anywhere between Rs 100-150 per trip.

Fisherman Damyanti Mhatre says the railway crossing has been used by their family for generations. "It's the first time that we are facing such a problem. I carry a huge basket, which has fish and other material in it. It is impossible for me to walk long distances with this. I have been forced to take the auto, and it's eating into my income."

Vivek Patil

When contacted, Western Railway Chief PRO Sumit Thakur said, "We have closed all phataks on the Western line, for the safety of people." Thakur said that to make commuting safer on the Mumbai suburban section, 11 new FOBs were constructed in 2020-21, while 30 FOBs were renovated or repaired, and one FOB was extended. He said that this will ensure that there are no deaths, while crossing tracks.