Level crossing at Kalwa to be closed on Christmas, over 100 additional train services expected in future

A level crossing at Kalwa that has been delaying the Central Railway's suburban trains on the slow line every single day will finally shut on Christmas, December 25. A bridge over the tracks to facilitate the movement of pedestrians and vehicles will be ready by that time. mid-day had reported last week about the likely opening of the bridge in December.

Senior railway officials said the Thane Municipal Corporation has informed CR that they intend to complete work on the approaches by December 25 after which the railways can go ahead with its plans of shutting the gate.

The level crossing spot at Kalwa

"The work has been executed under 50-50 cost-sharing between Central Railway and TMC. Accordingly, TMC has constructed approaches for the road overbridge. At present, the construction work is in its final stage and all work shall complete by December 25, 2021," a TMC official confirmed.

The level crossing at Kalwa holds up the most number of trains on CR's Mumbai suburban railway. The closure of this gate and addition of two lines as a part of the Thane-Diva 5th and 6th line project would allow authorities to run over 100 additional services in future.

While the bridge built by the railways was completed by 2017, its approaches, being built by the TMC, were delayed over land acquisition and legal wrangles.

No rail block tomorrow

CR and Western Railway have said that there won't be any day blocks this Sunday. WR officials said to carry out maintenance of tracks, signalling and overhead equipment, a jumbo block of 3.30 hours will be taken on the Churchgate-bound fast line between Vasai Road and Virar station from 23.30 pm and 3 am on the intervening night of December 4 and 5.

Rs 30cr
Cost of the bridge over the tracks