Segregated lines between Diva and Thane functional, no more waiting for mail trains to pass

Workers carry out the final work on the stretch between Thane and Diva during the 14-hours block. Pic/Satej Shinde

Mumbai railway's dream plan of separating local trains and mail/express national traffic finally saw light of day as the first segregated line became functional, between Diva and Thane, on Sunday. Around 38 km of direct stretch between Kurla and Kalyan is now functional for national express/mail trains, making space for more local trains on four older lines.

"The 14 hours of work for commissioning of Kalyan-bound fast lines on the designated alignment between Thane and Diva commenced on time at 1.20 am on Saturday and all planned works were completed, including cut and connection at Thane and Diva, slewing of tracks, insertion of new turnouts at Thane and Diva and its final commissioning," Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation's Chief Public Relations Officer Sunil Udasi said. He added, "Similarly, signalling work involving major alteration in panels at Thane and Diva, duly ensuring interlocking of new gears with existing gears were also completed. Four excavators, four tower wagons, one ballast train, three tamping machines and approximately 500 labourers were involved in a well-coordinated effort by Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation and Central Railway to commission the new alignment between Thane and Diva."

The work was supervised at the highest level at site, including by Chairman and Managing Director Ravi Agarwal and Divisional Railway Manager Shalabh Goel present. The final huge work block of 72 hours for commissioning the CSMT-bound fast line on the designated alignment with the fifth and sixth lines will be taken from February 4 to 6 to complete the project.

Mumbai division officials said that there could be caution orders and speed restrictions on rail tracks slowing down trains for the initial few days. "As the work involves major infrastructural changes, it may involve train delays till the line finally gets commissioned as train speeds are gradually increased after ensuring consolidation of new track/new formation," an CR official said.