The Central Railway (CR)completed two significant upgrades on its Mumbai suburban railway line over the weekend, including extending platforms and upgrading the signalling system at Mumbai CSMT and widening the platforms at Thane. These upgrades aim to accommodate longer 24-coach trains and handle increasing crowds. The work was completed well ahead of schedule, allowing the first train from CSMT to Titwala to depart at 1.10 pm itself.
Work being carried out at CSMT. File Pic/Rajendra B. Aklekar
A CR spokesperson said, “With support from all departments concerned, CR has completed the mammoth task of commissioning Electronic Interlocking (EI) at CSMT for the extension of platforms 10 and 11 and widening of platforms 5 and 6 at Thane station well before the targeted time to ensure smooth travel for all commuters.”
Here`s what has been done
At Mumbai CSMT: The commissioning of electronic interlocking, a safety mechanism controlling train movements, was completed. Platforms 10 and 11 at Mumbai CSMT were extended in length by 385 metres, totalling 690 metres, capable of accommodating 24-coach passenger trains. The extension was achieved during a 36-hour block from 12.30 am on June 1 to 12.30 pm on June 2 on the CSMT-Byculla main line and CSMT-Wadala harbour line, involving 250 highly skilled staff and a team of senior officers and supervisors.
At Thane station: Platform no. 5/6 at Thane station was widened by 2-3 metres along its entire 587-metre length during a 63-hour block from 12.30 am on May 31 to the afternoon of June 2. The platform, one of the busiest, accommodates more than 300 suburban and Mail/Express trains. The widening involved the placement of 785 precast hollow blocks, a first-time use for platform construction, and engaged 400 labourers from ten contractors in 20 teams working around the clock, alongside CR’s team of senior officers and supervisors, with senior section engineers leading each team to complete the task within the targeted time.
