MUMBAI, June 23: Thane would come closer to Navi Mumbai soon. Once the work on the Thane-Turbhe-Nerul-Vashi rail link is complete, commuters would no longer have to go to Kurla to catch a train to Thane. The new rail link is likely to become operational by March 2000.

The project cost estimated at Rs 403 crore will be shared by the City Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and the Central Railway in the ratio of 67:33 per cent. The 22.6 kilometre route from the twin city to the mainland will have ten railway stations which will be later commercially exploited by the CIDCO.

Railway officials, accompanied by a press team, visiting the site on Friday said the project will open a new chapter in the history of CR. The project, they added, will also enable introduction of a ring route for railways which will begin at CST and terminate at CST via Thane and Navi Mumbai.

The CR proposes to add three platforms at Thane station. While one would be used for the new Kurla-Thane corridor, two others will be dedicated to the Thane-Turbhe link. The new link with six major bridges, 26 subways and 26 minor bridges will pass through the business districts of Rabale, Koparkhairane and Airoli. Nearly 25,000 people travel to these places by private contract buses. Rail officials are fearing resistance from private bus operators who currently ferry these people to their work places.

Also, the link will facilitate the supply of foodgrains and other essentials from the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) to Thane and other far flung suburbs. Officials expect a passenger-load of 21,000 commuters per hour during peak hours on the line by the year 2012.

Meanwhile, nearly 10 per cent of work on the the sixth corridor on the CR between Kurla and Thane is over. Slums near Vikhroli would soon be relocated to a new 21,000 sq metre plot near Kanjurmarg clearing way for the corridor which is expected to be completed by the end of the century, officials said. However, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi is yet to clear the proposal for relocation of the slums, officials added.

Meanwhile, water logging is taking place on the tracks between Sion-Matunga and Ghatkopar. Officials blamed it on the absence of space to construct new drains .

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.