TWO PLATFORMS AT PANVEL STN TO GET ROOFS THIS MONTH

NAVI MUMBAI : The Central Railway (CR) will complete the task of putting roofs above two platforms of Panvel railway station during Diwali.

Earlier this year, the CR had announced that they would put roofs above platform number 6 and 7 before the onset of monsoon. They had started the work in May, but failed to meet the deadline.

SM Nair, manager of Panvel station, said, “The task of erecting the roofs above platform number 6 and 7 could not continue for long as it was hampering work of the terminus project.”

“It has been stalled for the time being. The work of the terminus project has been stopped in that area. Engineers will restart the work. We are confident of finishing the work by Diwali,” he added.

The service from these two platforms started between Panvel and Diva on December 28 in 1964.

Since then, there is no roof above platforms, except for a small part near the staircases.

Long-distance trains going towards Pune, Goa and the southern states stop on the two platforms. Without roofs, commuters had to wait for trains getting drenched in rains during monsoon.

Panvel is the busiest railway station in Navi Mumbai. According to the railway sources, over one lakh commuters travel from this station every day.

Commuters and residents of Panvelhavewelcomedthemove.

BhaktiDave, presidentofPanvel Pravashi Sangh, said, “The CRhasactuallytakenalongtime to put roofs above those two platforms. Commuters had to wait for trains standing in rains. We are glad that they will not face the same problem.”

In a separate project, Panvel station is being converted into a railway terminus to decongest Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in South Mumbai and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) at Kurla.

Three new platforms are being developed as part of the project.

The estimated budget for the project is ₹154 crore. NAVIMUMBAI: Residents of Sector 35 in Kharghar, who have been cleaning the lake premises more than a year now, have decided to crowdfundforanirmalyakalash to ensure that people throw all puja waste into it and the water body remains clean.

Theresidentshadapproached CityandIndustrialDevelopment Corporation (Cidco) and Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC), but the officials didn’t give a positive response.

The members of Adopt the Nature group who have been cleaning the lake premises every day for two hours have decided to instill discipline among those who throw puja and other waste into the water body.

Dharmendra Kar, 45, an environmentalist who heads the group, said, “We have been able to change the mindset of many but much more is still needed to be done. Every day, some new people come in and throw waste anywhere. May be nirmalya kalash would make a difference, this might change their attitude.”

“Crowdfunding a nirmalya kalash would be our last attempt to discipline people and make them realise that water bodies should be kept clean,” said Kar.

A nirmalya kalash will cost around Rs25,000. All volunteers andnatureloverswouldcontribute towards it.

During festivals ,the lake is full of puja waste, flowers and other and puja waste is dumped on daily basis which is fished out bythevolunteerseverymorning as they aim to protect the water body which has rich bio diversity.

The volunteers have even developed a mother’s garden nearby to ensure that premises remain green and clean.

The lake in Sector 35 node of Kharghar, once a vast green space, has fallen prey to garbage dumping.

Hitesh Raj, 38, an environmentalist, said, “It has been more than a year since people are trying to keep the lake area clean. A bin for flower waste will go a long way in keeping the premises clean.”

Last year, Cidco placed a nirmalya kalash during Chhath Pujabuttookitbackafterthefestival. Residents had requested them to let the kalash remain at the spot but they didn’t paid any heed to it.

Pramod Patil, nodal officer, environment, Cidco, said, “We appreciate the efforts of residents but we cannot place the nirmalyakalashpermanentlyas wehavelimitednumberofbins.”

PCMC officials said they don’t have enough funds to buy a nirmalya kalash. The sanitary inspectors of PCMC help volunteers in removing the garbage.

The residents from the area crowdfunded to buy saplings. For the past one year, volunteers have planted 50 saplings in the surrounding areas. They are being maintained by residents and volunteers.