How Thane station was transformed for PM’s event

Hawkers chased away, broken water coolers hidden, jaywalkers removed from level crossing —everything commuters want happened only for function

The Thane railway station had a makeover on Friday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually dedicated to the nation the new 5th and 6th lines between Thane and Diva. Hawker gangs went missing from the entire Thane station complex, debris and dysfunctional water machines  were hidden with green cloth and the level crossing gate was free of jaywalkers. 

PM’s event and Railways Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw’s inspections of Thane and Diva stations led to miracles which seldom happen after commuters complain.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ate vada pav and drank chai at Thane station for photo opportunities for the press. Pic/Satej Shinde

“The entire Thane station complex that is always full of hawkers in every nook and corner was completely free of any hawkers today in both the Thane Municipal Corporation and railway areas. Pillars were scrubbed clean and the place sanitised. This is a miracle that such things sadly happen only when some big minister visits or there is some court directive,” Anand Jagtap, a commuter resident of Thane said.

Even the debris of the bridge foundation dumped on the platform was dressed in a cloth curtain and a safety strip put up on it. The station tracks and platforms had been painted in the past few days. “The minutest things have been fixed and ministers should visit regularly for such improvements,” Anita Yewale, another commuter said.

The covered dysfunctional water machines

The dysfunctional water machines at all platforms were also covered up in green cloth to hide them from the minister’s eyes, and access to the level crossing on the platform was barricaded by the Railway Protection Force at Diva station.

Minister tours Sena stronghold

Seen as a preparatory visit for the BMC elections by experts, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw came to Thane station from the airport and took a local train from Thane to Diva, interacting with few commuters. At the crowded Diva station, the minister took the narrow CSMT-end foot overbridge and commuters had to be stopped for him and his entourage. At Diva, which is a stronghold of the Shiv Sena, after a show of strength by BJP workers and a small talk, Vaishnaw again took the local train back to Thane station where in the east, he mingled with the public, ate vada pav and drank chai for photo opportunities for the press and visited the BJP offices in Thane.

Thane station to be redeveloped

Vaishnaw said that Thane was one of the key stations in the history of the Indian Railways, and would soon be redeveloped as per its historical and cultural importance. He said there were plans to improve the quality of stations and commute for Mumbaikars.

Housing minister pleads for slums

Maharashtra Housing Minister Jitendra Ahwad on Friday dramatically pleaded to the railways to give land to the state government to rehabilitate slum dwellers. “You give us land and we will make houses for them. The railways should join hands with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority. The railways cannot just throw out slum dwellers from their land without rehabilitating them,” he said.

1853
Year Thane station was opened

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