New creek bridge and slow lines at Thane to open today

Four locos were run over the new bridge on Thane creek in the load deflection test

The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) carried out a successful load deflection test of the new rail bridge over the Thane creek, by running four locomotives over it, on the weekend. The new creek bridge - in two sets - and slow lines of Thane station will be opened to the public on today. The 36-hour work that began on Saturday afternoon was to be completed today by 2 am.

"During the test, readings were taken to check if any deflections were within parameters as per the bridge design standards by running locos on it at different speeds. During this block, the west side newly laid track between Thane and Vitawa Road Under Bridge (RUB) was cut and connected to the existing slow lines. Similarly, dismantling of existing four turnouts and insertion and commissioning of four new turnouts was also carried out with overhead and signalling work at Thane yard. A load deflection test on two girder bridges near Thane using twin diesel engines on each track was successfully conducted," a spokesperson of the MRVC said.

Around 800 labourers, staff and officers worked on site, in shifts continuously. Pic/Satej Shinde

"Five tower wagons, two track machines, six excavators, 2x2 diesel multi locos and one ballast rake are being used to carry out engineering, electrical and signal and telecommunication works. In addition, regular maintenance works of track, overhead wires and signalling is also being carried out in the shadow block," he added.

Work round the clock

"In this block around 800 labourers, staff and officers are working on site, in shifts continuously. The work is being monitored at the highest level in the field by Central Railway and MRVC officials which include additional divisional managers from Mumbai division and heads of departments from MRVC and CR, round the clock. MRVC Chairman and Managing Director Ravi Agarwal and Director (Projects) Vijay Nathawat too, were at the site to monitor the crucial work," he said. On completion of this block, the new slow line will be commissioned between Thane and Diva on the designated alignment.

"These mega blocks are needed as the two new tracks have been laid on the west of existing tracks between Thane-Vitawa and Nutan Tunnel-Diva sections and on the east side of existing tracks between Vitawa-Nutan tunnel. This has been done to optimise land acquisition and relief and rehabilitation of project affected people. It therefore involves over 24 cut and connections between new and existing tracks. With this block, 14 cut and connections have been completed," the official explained. The blocks will continue on weekends till the Thane-Diva 5th and 6th line gets commissioned by mid-February 2022, he said.