August 7: Union Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan seems to have accepted Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's challenge. On the eve of his visit to the city tomorrow, the Central Railway today expressed its inability to start new long-distance trains from Dadar.

Thackeray had banned Paswan's entry into the city after his refusal to allow Konkan Railway trains to start their journey from Dadar instead of Kurla Terminus. Thackeray later lifted to the ban ostensibly to allow Paswan to attend functions related to the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Indian Independence.

Rakesh Saxena, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Central Railway, told Express Newsline that the station's infrastructure was already over-stretched. Saxena said the only to meet Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's demand to start Konkan Railway trains from Dadar is by shifting the point of origination of some existing trains to Kurla. This, however he said could lead to protests from the affected passengers. Maharashtra State Transport Minister Chandrakant Khaire though is not convinced. He maintains that with few adjustments Konkan Railway trains can be started from Dadar.

Platform no. seven and eight at Dadar are currently being used for long-distance trains originating from here. Eight such trains leave from and terminate at Dadar. Saxena said this leaves no platform free for a new train, neither does it leave a free path for a train to enter. ``Dadar terminus has two maintenance sidings (or pit-lines) where trains are cleaned, their electric connections charged and the rakes checked. These sidings too are busy at present,'' he explained. The CPRO clarified that though sidings and platforms are not occupied the whole day, trains have to be spaced properly. ``Moreover, you can't have trains leaving late in the night or early morning.''

Apart from eight trains that originate from Dadar, there are 60 long-distance trains (up and down) that halt at platform number four, five and six. Besides, there are Central Railway suburban train stopping at Dadar every four minutes (fast) and five minutes (slow).

And platforms are not the only problem. Dadar perhaps is the most crowded station in the city. The foot-overbridges as well as the area outside the station are jam-packed with commuters even after peak hours. After long strenuous journeys, passengers wait for upto 30 minutes, if not more, to get a cab.

As against this, Saxena describes Kurla as a terminus of the future which was constructed to ease the burden on Dadar. Kurla terminus has three platforms exclusively for outstation trains. In the last two years, three pairs of trains have been started from Kurla.The most serious problem about Kurla station is that it is not easily accessible. There are 11 bus routes to Kurla station, but irregular services make passengers easy targets for taxi and rickshaw drivers.Following an inspection on June 12, then minister for transport, P Navalkar, had announced that approach to Kurla station will be improved. However nothing has happened.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.