In a display of incompetence by the Western Railway (WR), a 22-storey building next to the Dadar railway station is holding up construction of Lines 5 and 6 in the area which is part of its expansion plans. These new train lines are expected to separate local and long-distance trains effectively.
This building was constructed by WR for its staff and employees with construction beginning nearly 5 years ago. But despite being ready in early 2019, the complex hasn’t received a water connection or an occupation certificate. This, in turn, has delayed the moving of railway staff as well as families from Vile Parle to this building. While shifting up to 120 families is no easy task, this is certainly no excuse for the lackadaisical attitude shown by WR.
It’s worth mentioning that the existing railway staff building at Vile Parle needs to be demolished for the track expansion work to begin. The complex in Dadar is believed to have two wings which consist of 160 tenements. Also, the delays have significantly increased the cost of this building from the originally estimated ₹27 crore to ₹34 crore, it is said.
Prashant Kanade, Divisional Secretary (Mumbai) Western Railway Employees Union said: “It has been almost a year now that construction of this 22-storey building is complete. It was meant for railway staff residing at Vile Parle, whose buildings will be demolished for laying the 6th line. However, the administration has still not shifted them.”
It is said that the railway staff residing in the Matunga Road quarters have also asked to be shifted to the aforementioned Dadar complex. WR, on the other hand, has mentioned that it is currently in the process of getting permission so they can be shifted.
There were further holdups in the Kandivali-Malad, Malad-Goregaon and Ram Mandir-Jogeshwari stations where the authorities had to deal with 700 illegal encroachments while the railway staff quarters also happened to be in the area.
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