Panvel is the last suburban railway station on the Harbour line, but in the coming years, it is expected to become as important as Dadar, Bandra or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) railway stations. The Indian Railways is going to make Panvel a hub for the future and for this they shall be expediting work on the Rs 154 crore Panvel terminus. Keeping in mind Navi Mumbai airport, MTHL, and new suburban rail corridors connecting Navi Mumbai the state government and Indian Railways, on Sunday, felt the need to convert Panvel into a much bigger station. "Raigad district will soon upgrade in the years to come and for this, a rail network needs to be created. In the near future, Panvel will play an important role. Permission for CSMT-Panvel elevated corridor too has been approved," Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday. The elevated corridor, according to the railways, will take people on this 60 km route from CSMT in 50 minutes which otherwise takes nearly 80 minutes or more. At present there are only two rail tracks on the Harbour line and so the need. Meanwhile, Panvel is being made into a terminus to take load off CSMT, Kurla LTT and Dadar. The work of the project is underway and nearly 50 per cent of work of phase I is complete. The estimated budget for the project is Rs 154 crore in which City and Industrial Development Corporation will bear 2/3rd of the cost while remaining will be borne by the Railways. The terminus will be a three-storey building with all amenities for commuters. In the first phase, there shall be new platforms to accommodate longer trains, foot over bridges and escalators. Apart from Habour line, more than 54 long-distance trains pass through this station every day. A MAJOR HUB FOR FUTURE

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