The Ghatkopar-based Kalyan-Murbad line support group endorsed Sanjay Dina Patil, the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate for North East Mumbai, urging people to vote for him due to his commitment to implementing the new alignment of the third ghat from Mumbai to Junnar. Once established, this line will provide a third entry point on Central Railway’s main line, along with the existing routes of Kalyan-Kasara and Kalyan-Karjat.

“We will support anyone who will help us get the rail alignment from Mumbai to Junnar in the first phase. We have been fighting for a rail alignment between Ahmednagar-Malshej and Mumbai for the past 30 years. This alignment will link Mumbai directly to Vishakhapatnam, eastern and western parts of India, western Maharashtra, and the Marathwada region. There have been several rallies, protests, seminars, and meetings for the project. The last time the project was surveyed was in 2006 and in 2019 the first phase was announced till Malshej. Though practically it would have been prudent to have the first phase till Junnar or Madh,” Dineshchandra Hulwale, chairman of the Malshej Railway Kruti Samiti Mandal said. “Named the third Ghat Line project in the railway board files, the project will be of immense help to the regions of Marathwada, Ahmednagar, Junnar, and Murbad proving beneficial to farmers and the local populace for connectivity. It will also be immensely beneficial for generating jobs and promoting tourism,” he said.

The existing two Ghat lines in Mumbai include the Mumbai-Pune Khandala Ghat line and the Mumbai-Nashik Igatpuri Ghat line.

Hulawale said the project has always received good political support from stalwart leaders of Maharashtra like late Gopinath Munde, Madhukarrao Pichad, Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Pramod Hinduraro. Northeast Mumbai candidate Sanjay Dina during 2009-14 when he was a member of parliament had supported our committee to take the work of the line ahead and hence we are supporting him,” he added.

Sanjay Dina Patil said he had been following up the project and entirely supported the cause. “I will further support and take it to the logical conclusion,” he said.

Status of the project

The interim budget presented in February 2024 has already sanctioned R10 crore for the 28-km Kalyan-Murbad railway line via Ulhasnagar. It has been proposed to be run from Kalyan to Murbad, passing through Ambivli, Kamba Road, Shahad, Mamnoli, Apti, Potgaon, and other stations. The in-principle approval for the construction of this railway line was given in 2016. A route survey was conducted from Ulhasnagar, Titwala and Murbad.

In 2022, the Eknath Shinde government told the Centre that to expedite the project, the Maharashtra government would contribute 50 per cent of the cost. The Railway Board sanctioned the project’s Detailed Project Report in 2023 at the cost of R836.12 crore. At present, the Final Location Survey is being carried out and a Detailed Project Report is being prepared. As of February 2024, the interim budget allocated R10 crore for the development and upgradation of the 28 km Kalyan-Murbad line via Ulhasnagar.

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