After inordinate delay of almost 14 years, construction of subway passing underneath Kurla station will commence soon. The ongoing work on the subway is slated to be completed by December 2016, inquiries by RTI activist Anil Galgali revealed. This time Railways and Mumbai Municipal Corporation have teamed up to finish the project entailing a fresh cost of Rs 5.05 crores. After completion of the work, this subway will provide a much needed link between the east and west side to one of the busiest suburban thoroughfares in Mumbai.
Executive Engineer (Construction) of Central Railway, K. Prabhakaran informed Galgali that Ms Mahesh Roopchandani of Solapur have been awarded the contract of construction by the Railways. Central Railway will provide an additional fund of Rs 2.11 crores for completion of the project. The contract will start the work on 21 October 2014 and it is expected to be completed on 31 December 2016. Central Railway had earlier spent Rs 3.84 crores on 129.9 metre for the construction of a tunnel running under Main and Harbour Railway lines. This 7.60 metre wide tunnel with a height of 2.6 metres was constructed years ago remains incomplete.
BMC had been entrusted the responsibility of construction of approach road to the western side of the subway, which alone would cost Rs 2.94 crores. Executive Engineer (Bridge) of Eastern Suburb of MCGM, F A Chavhan informed Galgali that work has already officially begun on February 2016 and is likely to be completed in a period of nine months, excluding the period of rains.
“This uncompleted project had proved to be stupendous waste of resources, not put to use even after having spent crores or rupees. I hope it will be completed soon and provide relief to the common people. It will also reduce the number of fatalities that occur when commuters cross railway tracks,” Galgali said.
