Oshiwara station idea dropped to keep project deadline

According to MRVC sources,as the project started,there was a strong opposition from the public against the closure of a level crossing between Goregoan and Jogeshwari stations. “We wanted to close the level crossing without which work could not have been started. There was public demand to construct a Road over Bridge (ROB),” said an MRVC official.

There was also a dispute between Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) on which agency would construct the ROB. Finally,BMC had agreed to build the ROB. “The ROB work was started in the second half of 2009 and is likely to be completed by 2011,” said standing committee chairman and Shiv Sena MLA Ravindra Waikar.

“We will complete all the MUTP projects before December 2010 expect the construction of Oshiwara station,” said MRVC Managing Director of MRVC Pramod Chander Sehgal.

A senior MRVC official,however,said if the railway station project has to be included in another phase of MUTP,the MRVC has to approach the World Bank again as the project is funded by it. It’s unlikely for the railways to undertake the project independently. The project was delayed by two state agencies,he added.