Title - New CR corridor to terminate at Parel

Taking the difficulties involved in the restructuring of overbridges and land acquisition into account, the Central Railway (CR) has decided to terminate its plan for the additional fifth and sixth line corridor at Parel, instead of CST.

Currently, there are two corridors each for

slow and fast trains between CST and Kalyan.  The dedicated corridor was planned for long-distance passenger and goods trains plying between CST and Kalyan, to reduce the traffic on the existing four lines.

However, the extension of the fifth and sixth lines to CST would involve re-engineering of six rail overbridges between CST and Parel, which are more than 100 years old. These include the Arthur Bridge at Chinchpokli, Currey Road bridge, S bridge in Byculla, Khada Parsee ROB in Byculla, Hancock ROB at Sandhurst road and Masjid Bunder ROB.  The demolition of these bridges could lead to major traffic disruptions.

"The existing services will not be stopped. But, the new services will start from Parel, where we plan to build a terminus. Besides, the CST does not have a platform for the additional lines," said Subodh Jain, general manager CR. 

"The construction of the additional lines seems feasible only till Parel. Work on the stretch between Kurla-Parel would be taken up in the first phase," said Vidyadhar Malegaonkar, chief public relation officer, CR.