Key Rail Project Survey Faces Political Red Signal in Thane
The crucial survey work for the long-delayed and ambitious elevated Airoli–Kalwa railway corridor in Thane is likely to be brought to a standstill. This follows a stern warning from the Thane unit of the Nationalist Congress Party–Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP), which has vowed to stall the process. The party's condition is clear: the authorities must first provide a written rehabilitation agreement for all slum dwellers affected by the project.
Rehabilitation Concerns Take Center Stage
The issue, which had been dormant for several years, was reignited on Wednesday. This happened after NCP-SP leader Jitendra Awhad received a letter from the Thane Municipal Commissioner. The letter stated that the rehabilitation of affected families would commence soon after the survey. However, Awhad claimed the communication lacked crucial details, offering no clarity on where and how the rehabilitation would be executed.
This lack of concrete information prompted the legislator to adopt an aggressive stance. Awhad emphasized that the project has been stalled since 2017, primarily due to unresolved rehabilitation concerns. He highlighted that most of the over 750 affected families are daily wage labourers and domestic workers. "If they are relocated elsewhere, they will lose their local jobs. Residents have also strongly opposed the project, and we will not let this happen," Awhad stated.
He issued a firm ultimatum: No survey or project activity will be permitted at the site unless the government provides clear, written details on the relocation plan. Awhad recalled that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier assured rehabilitation. However, the NCP-SP leader insists on rehabilitating residents in buildings constructed on government-owned plots within the same area, with formal agreements signed with the slum dwellers beforehand.
Commuters Bear the Brunt of Delay
The roughly 3-kilometer elevated rail corridor is being executed under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). Its primary objective is to enable Trans-Harbour (TBH) line passengers traveling from Kalyan to reach Navi Mumbai directly, bypassing the congested Thane station. The two-line route originates from Kalwa railway station on the Central Railway main line, crosses over the existing 5-6 lines at Parsik, and descends ahead of the newly inaugurated Digha station before merging with the TBH lines.
Commuter activists have expressed frustration at the latest developments, labeling it an unnecessary politicization of a critical infrastructure issue. Siddhesh Desai of the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh slammed the impasse, pointing out the severe inconvenience faced by lakhs of daily passengers. "Lakhs of suburban passengers from Kalwa, Mumbra, and beyond continue to suffer overcrowded trains and severe congestion at Thane station. It is a pity such a crucial project is held up for a rehabilitation issue which can otherwise be resolved easily," Desai said. His organization has previously taken up the matter with both the Railway Ministry and the state government.
The standoff presents a complex challenge: balancing the urgent need for improved urban transport infrastructure with the legitimate housing and livelihood rights of hundreds of vulnerable families. The future of this key corridor now hinges on a swift and transparent resolution of the rehabilitation deadlock.
