Start train from western Mumbai: Forum

Mangaluru: In the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two day state visit, Mumbai Rail Yatri Sangha, in collaboration with various railway yatri sanghas in the coastal districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, will reach out to the elected representatives of Karnataka, pressing for the introduction of at least one daily train originating from the western side of Mumbai, towards Mangaluru.
Oliver D’Souza, executive secretary, Mumbai Rail Yatri Sangha, told TOI that at present there are eight trains starting from Central Railway, Mumbai, and going towards Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but there isn’t even a single train, which originates from the Western Railway side of Mumbai. According to an estimate, in 2007-08, about 34.7 lakh Kannadigas travelled on the Mumbai-Mangaluru route, from the western side, taking three local trains and two autorickshaws to reach Lokmanya Tilak Terminus.
“Thus, a direct train originating from the western side will save a lot of time, energy and money. A lot of patients travel on this route for cancer treatment,” he said.
“We had met the former chief minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, about a decade ago, and he had assured free land and could give a U-turn of a track from Naigaon to Juchandra. However, the proposal was never implemented. The Mumbai Rail Yatri Sangha has been trying for at least two daily express trains originating from Bandra Terminus via Vasai and Panvel towards Mangaluru, from the western side. Since 2008, we have met various ministers, including Union railway ministers, but the demand has not been fulfilled,” said D’Souza.
Western Mumbai has highly populated areas like Bandra, Khar road, Santa Cruz, Vile Parle, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Oshivara, Goregaon, Malad, Khandivali, Borivili, Dahisar, Mira Road, Bhayander, Naigaon, Vasai Road, Nalasopora, Virar, Saphale, Kelva Road, Palghar, Umroli Road, Boisar, Vangaon and Dahanu Road, where lakhs of Kannadigas reside.
Mira Road is known as a mini Mangalore, but there is no train originating from this side, and going towards the Konkan route, he said, adding the Rail Yatri Sangha hoped that the Union government will take this issue up on priority, because of the state legislative assembly next year.