Thane Station’s Platform Expanded, Offers 30% More Space for Commuters: Central Railway
Mumbai, 3rd June 2024: Thane station’s Platform 5/6, handling 300 suburban and long-distance trains daily, underwent expansion by 2-3m on Sunday, offering commuters 30% more space, revealed Rajnish Goyal, Central Railway’s divisional railway manager.
“The widened platform will not only accommodate more commuters but also facilitate future escalator installations and widen existing foot over-bridge stairways for quicker dispersal,” stated Goyal.
The 63-hour rail block, aimed at infrastructure enhancement, concluded around 12:30 pm on Sunday, ahead of the scheduled 3:30 pm deadline. Simultaneously, at CSMT, platforms 10 and 11 were extended by 385m to 690m during a 36-hour rail block over the weekend, allowing for the accommodation of 24-coach trains.
Goyal explained, “Previously, platforms 14 to 18 accommodated 24-coach trains, causing delays for mail/express trains. Now, with platforms 10 and 11 extended, arrival times will be expedited.” Additionally, work commenced on extending platforms 12 and 13 on Sunday.
The CSMT rail block also saw the implementation of an intelligent and integrated electronic interlocking signalling system, enhancing operational efficiency.
At Thane station, over 400 labourers, 20 teams, and 10 contractors completed the platform expansion, utilizing 785 precast hollow blocks for the first time in platform construction, according to CR chief spokesperson Swapnil Nila.
Despite travel disruptions over the weekend, BEST operated special buses, covering 132 trips to Wadala station, 125 trips to Byculla, and 92 trips to CSMT to cater to passenger needs. A total of 27.4 lakh commuters utilized BEST buses on Saturday.
