Parel Terminus hits roadblock

The Central Railway (CR) had promised a Parel Terminus, within the coming two years, but officials have said that there might be a delay as the alignment of 5th and 6th line between Kurla and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) is yet to be decided.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, chief public relations officer, Narendra Patil said that the tender for the said Parel Terminus had been awarded to a private company. The cost of the total work would be Rs 51 crore out of which Rs 28 core will be used for passenger amenities and the remaining 123 crore will be used for technical works. “We have awarded the tender, and one of the most important features of this work will be a skywalk connecting the rail-over-bridge from the CST end to the foot-over-bridge at Parel, which too lies at the CST end,” said Mr Patil.

The 5th and 6th line alignment was reworked and instead of having them on the Harbour Line's current platform no. 1 and 2 at CST, the latter is to be shifted to P D'Mello Road for this adjustment. But officials said that the new tracks between CST and Kurla would be overlapping the area of the all-new Parel Terminus.

“The contract can be awarded but the actual work will not start for a good four months as we are still in talks with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) about using the land at P D’Mello Road. Although it has said that it doesn’t mind us shifting the Harbour line platforms there, none of it has been chalked out on paper,” said a senior CR official on condition of anonymity.

Officials have said that before giving any work to the contractor who made the winning bid, railways itself has to get a clear picture. “How can we give the contractors a plan of construction until we are clear about the progress ourselves ” the officials asked.

Advantages of Parel Terminus Parel is known for its infamous narrow platforms, but under this plan both Up and Down platforms will be widened by 10 metres Platform no. 1 will finally be converted into a terminal platform and will be able to take and leave terminating and originating train Widening of the CST end foot-over-bridge's staircase at platform no. 1, 2 and 3