Navi Mumbai: Central Railway (CR) has taken over the remaining 14 railway stations developed by the CIDCO on the Harbour and Trans-Harbour corridors, ending a long-running tussle over who would maintain the stations and provide passenger amenities. The handover, completed on Thursday, means all 17 stations developed by CIDCO have now been transferred to CR, although commercial and other administrative formalities will continue into October.
“The major works and passenger facilities that needed to be provided were not being delivered. Mhaske had repeatedly raised the issue with Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. With CR now in charge, the focus will be on modernising individual stations and improving facilities such as seating and toilets.
A joint meeting at Central Railway headquarters at CSMT on May 15 set a six-month timeline for the transfer. The transfer of commercial rights will take place from October 16. CIDCO will hand over agreement details to CR by October 15, while land plans are to be completed by September 30.
Whenever we approached the Railways, we were told that the stations were under CIDCO’s control. CIDCO, in turn, would say that the agreement with the Railways had not been completed,” Thane MP Naresh Mhaske said. “While the Railways is being modernised in such a comprehensive manner, Vashi and Navi Mumbai railway stations were not seeing the same kind of modernisation,” Mhaske said. Mhaske said the second phase had slowed after the first three stations were transferred, leading to another meeting with Vaishnaw last week. Officials said escalators will also be installed wherever required.
