Following the completion of civil works, the first major 10-hour rail block to complete the decade-old Thane-Diva 5th and 6th line rail project was carried out on Sunday. About 300 metres of existing tracks were shifted to accommodate the new lines in what is called ‘slewing’ in railway lingo.

The project is targeted for a March 2022 deadline. The cost has escalated from originally about Rs 130 crore to Rs 502 crore. Once complete, the lines will help the Central Railway add nearly 100 more local services as Diva-Thane is the busiest corridor at present. The Central Railway spokesperson said the block started at 8 am and was completed at 5:35 pm. Though the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation is undertaking the work, there was not a single official update from them about the work.