The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has announced plans to decongest railway stations in Ghatkopar and Bhayander. The authorities have reportedly drafted a plan for this purpose and are awaiting approval from Western (WR) and Central Railway (CR).
R S Khurana, Chairman and Managing Director of MRVC said - “The General Arrangement Drawing (GAD) for Bhayander has been sent for approval to WR. For Ghatkopar, we have firmed up the design and will wait for the approval of CR before finalising the GAD and later invite tenders.”
In 2018, MP Manoj Kotak brought the government’s attention to the congestion in railway stations. Following this, Union Railway Minister, Piyush Goyal directed CR and WR authorities to improve the way commuters are handled in stations like Andheri and Ghatkopar.
Also Read: Ghatkopar Station All Set To Get Two FOB's And Elevated Deck
It is said that the Ghatkopar station sees around 3.5 lakh passengers during peak hours. The station at Bhayander apparently has up to 2.6 lakh commuters during the morning and evening peak hours alone. However, the data from Bhayander station was recorded back in 2013 by the MRVC, so the number may be significantly higher now.
Ghatkopar and Bhayander station are only two among the 20 stations that are expected to be upgraded in order to better control crowds. This project is said to be undertaken at a cost of Rs 950 crore.
“The crowd at Bhayander is going to increase as the population is shifting from unaffordable and congested areas of Mumbai and suburbs due to the comparatively cheaper homes in this township,” an MRVC official said.
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