CR's Parel factory likely to be closed; Proposal to set up coaching terminus in 47 acres of land

The Parell Railway Factory (workshop) on the Central Railway is on the verge of closure and it is planned to send the working railway employees to different factories of the Railways. After that, it is proposed to set up a coaching terminus in the 47 acre area of Parel factory. However, the employees have opposed this and a protest march was taken out by the Central Railway Mazdoor Union at CSMT on Tuesday against this proposal. It has been alleged by the union that the central railway administration has closed the factory and commercialised it and grabbed the land.

A Parel factory was set up on the Central Railway in 1879 to manufacture steam engines. So, diesel, electric railway engines, and narrow gauge locos are manufactured and maintained in this factory. Also maintenance work of LHB coaches is done here. But Central Railway is going to close down this factory and construct a terminus at that place as there is no requirement. Parel terminus is not required when CSMT, LTT, Dadar terminus. While the big machinery of the Parel factory will be sent to Matunga, Sanpada.

Also, about two thousand skilled railway employees who have been working in the factory for years will be sent to the factory in Badnera, Latur, Ratnagiri. Also, the British-era structures in the factory will be damaged. Along with this, 600 railway employees have houses in this area and they will be shifted to other places. Along with this, many trees will be cut down, General Secretary of Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh Praveen Vajpayee said.

Presently there is a heavy load of local, long distance trains at CSMT, Dadar. It is not possible to start any new trains from this area. Therefore, the Central Railway will send the machines from the Parel factory to Matunga and elsewhere and construct a passenger terminus at that place. Also, the way to construct the fifth and sixth route from Kurla to CSMT will be opened. Therefore, the emphasis will be on increasing local and long-distance trains in the future, said Rajnish Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager of Central Railway.