Thane Station: An accident in the making?

Commuters from one of the busiest railway stations on Central Railways, Thane, are all set to receive a new parking lot. However, as profitable as the parking lot may be for Railways, the metal rods from the under-construction parking lot are giving the commuters a hard time.

According to a report in leading daily, the parking lot on the west side has been allotted to a contractor for ₹1.56 crore and is expected to result in a cumulative income of ₹4.69 crore over three years for Railways.

 

Image Credits: Mid DayThane station has 10 railway platforms, handling over 6.54 lakh passengers on a daily basis. The railway station records more than 1,000 train journeys every day. Along with slow trains and dast trains, Thane also connects the Central line with the Trans-Harbour line.

Also Read: A Stampede-Like Situation In Andheri Due To Escalator Malfunction

A major concern for the commuters is about safety as the iron rods jutting out near the base of the new foot overbridge can result in injuries for passengers rushing through the route daily.

Meanwhile, Railways has already taken note of the issue. Central Railway's Senior Public Relations Officer Anil Kumar Jain told Mid-Day,

"We will take up appropriate measures to rectify the issue."

The parking lot is being constructed on the station's western side and covers an area of 3,352 sq metres, accommodating approximately 2,500 vehicles. The parking lot will become an addition to the parking area at the station's eastern side, being built over an expanse of 2,500 sq metres.

Also Read: Shivneri Fort To Undergo Development And Conservation At A Cost Of ₹23 Crores

The parking space on the eastern side is expected to accommodate close to 1,700 vehicles, including bicycles, two-wheelers and four-wheelers. The two mega-parking lots are aimed at eliminating unauthorised parking. They will also assist in decongestion of the area outside the station.