The risky crossing

The Central Railways has a level crossing each in the Santacruz-Vile Parle and Bandra-Khar stretch. The Andheri -Jogeshwari stretch has two crossings while the Goregaon-Jogheswari stretch has one. Vikhroli-Thane and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus have a level crossing each.

The Railways’ demand for road overbridges (ROB) is a long-pending one. Last month there was a public uproar after three people died in an accident at the Vikhroli crossing. “We have been demanding a ROB for years but despite so many deaths the bridge never came up,” said Terence D’souza of The Bombay Catholic Sabha,Vikhroli unit.

The Central Railways had given a go-ahead to construction of a road overbridge at Vikhroli in 1997-98,however,the project was delayed after it was opposed by some locals. Today the cost of the project has gone up from Rs 3 crore to Rs 13 crore. The BCS fears that the alignment of the ROB would be changed to suit interests of those opposing the bridge.

After the Vikhroli incident,the Western Railways had asked the MMRDA to construct two ROBs between Andheri and Goregoan. The railways also wrote to the government to stop traffic at the five level crossings in the Bandra-Goregaon section.

“Closing the level crossing would not only bring down accidents but also help in swift movement of traffic and reduce the maintenance cost,” said WR chief spokesperson Sarat Chandrayan.

Rail infrastructure is found wanting even in suburbs like Diva and Kalwa.