02 June,2012 10:48 AM IST | | Vedika Chaubey
A five-year long wait came to an end on Tuesday when the first long distance train departed for Lucknow from platform no five at 4.25 pm from the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Kurla marking the inauguration of the new terminus. But, the opening ceremony was a low-key affair, as Railway Minister Mukul Roy did not turn up for the event citing a busy schedule.
According to a railway official, the Rs 65-crore development, which took five years to build, was supposed to be inaugurated by the Railway Minister Mukul Roy but as he was unable to make it, they decided to commence the services. "There were some discussions that we should invite the CM, but we decided against it. The first train left at 4.25 pm from platform number five of the new building. After this, seven trains departed from that platform on Tuesday," said a CR official, on condition of anonymity.
Given the green flag: The first train left the new terminus building on Tuesday for Lucknow. The Kurla LTT terminus spread overu00a03,368 sq metre, will have a 65-bed air conditioned dormitory for passengers, AC cafeteria and extensive parking area. Pics/Sunil Tiwari
"Once the new terminus building will be fully operational, the burden on other stations will be reduced, as there is more space and the platforms at LTT station can accommodate 28-coach trains," said the official. "Both CST and Dadar railway stations are very congested, and we cannot increase the platform length," said the railway official.
The platform at Dadar railway station can accommodate only 16 coach trains. Currently, seven up and seven down trains originate and terminate from Dadar, while 105 up and down trains operate every day from CST railway station. Pending structures will be fully completed within a year's time, as construction work on a 128 m long subway that will connect the platforms to the new building is ongoing. The booking office is operational at the new building. u00a0
Rs 65 cru00a0
The cost of building theu00a0new terminus at LTTu00a0
