Title - Railways await Nashik Municipal Corporation response over expansion plans for Nashik station

NASHIK: Central Railway (CR) has sought land from the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) for expansion of the Nashik Road railway station."The Railways are looking for land to expand their services, including the creation of additional platforms, at Nashik Road railway station. If we get the land now we would like to improve infrastructure to meet the demands that may emerge due to the forthcoming Kumbh mela. We are awaiting for the NMC to reply to us regarding our request for land along with ready reckoner purchase rates," a senior railway official said.The CR has sent a letter to the NMC seeking the transfer of reserved land to Railway for adding facilities in the corporation area.Former deputy mayor, Devyani Pharande said that the letter from the Railways was tabled in the House nearly a month ago. "The electoral code-of-conduct that was in force at that time prohibited us from taking the issue further," Pharande said.The NMC has acquired land measuring approximately 1,72,000 square metres and reserved it for a 'railway terminus and allied activities' to be developed by Central Railway. The original owners of the land have been granted the transfer of development rights (TDR). The price of the plot is believed to be between Rs 70 crore to Rs 100 crore.NMC commissioner Sanjay Khandare said that he had received the letter and was in the process of working out costs involved. "We will be quoting rates in the enxt couple of days," Khandare said.

An NGO, Rail Parishad, has demanded that the existing railway station be developed into a terminus if land had been reserved for this.

Railway officials however said that the CR was still 'considering' the proposal and nothing concrete could be said at present. The status of 'terminus' was a subject of discussion for the Railway Board, an official said.