Squatters holding up work on the Kalwa-Airoli rail link

Digha station on the upcoming Kalwa-Airoli link

Work on the Kalwa-Airoli rail link that has been planned to connect Navi Mumbai's trans-harbour line with the main line at Kalwa has been stranded due to a number of encroachments along the promised stretch.

"Work is happening wherever land is available, including the construction of a new railway station at Digha. There are about 1,067 project affected households that need to make way for the rail link, of which 924 tenements have been reserved by MMRDA for relief and rehab. Due to Covid-19 pandemic and obstruction by local people, collection of details has been stopped holding up the rehab process," said a railway official.

Construction of Digha station after this spot, the line will run on an elevated section. File pics

The elevated link will enable direct trains between Vashi-Belapur and Kalyan. The rail flyover has been planned with a ballastless track along with an elevated Kalwa station including platforms, booking office and foot under bridges.

Estimated to cost Rs 476 crore, the line will run on an elevated section after Digha station and will pass through parts of Kalwa. The project is expected to decongest Thane station and provide direct connectivity between suburbs in Thane, Kalyan and Navi Mumbai.

"It is sad that despite having all the official sanctions in place, the project is not receiving the support from the government for transfer of land or any assistance in getting the project affected households shifted," said Siddhesh Desai, vice-president of the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh. Desai had filed an RTI query to understand the development of the project.