THANE: Residents and officer goers from Airoli, Digha are facing immense inconvenience thanks to the delay in operating the new railway station on Thane Vashi trans-harbour railway route.It may be recalled the new Digha station on the THB route was commissioned few years back and two platforms constructed by the MRVC in February this year raising hopes of thousands of commuters who travel between the suburb and Navi Mumbai, Thane daily.The area lying on the fringes of Thane and Navi Mumbai is a mix of low income group population and commercial units. Majority of the population that either work or stay here presently have to travel either to Airoli or Thane station by road to access the Central Railway mainline CSMT-Kalyan or harbour route services.The completion of two platforms at the station had raised hopes of commuters who said they would be saved the hassle of road commute. However, nearly six months into the completion of the station, it is yet to be thrown open for commuters. Commuters say they have to either have to take a circuitous road route via Thane or Airoli or risk their lives and walk down the railway tracks.Presently, we are spending money to travel to Thane or Airoli to board trains. It is a surprise that the administration or netas have failed to make this station functional despite there being a desperate need for it, said a daily commuter. Shiv Sena UBT MP Rajan Vichare, Monday, recently wrote to the parliamentary standing committee questioning the delay and warned of staging a protest if there was any further delay. There is no clarity on why the project is delayed for so long. The delay is not just causing inconvenience to commuter but also depriving the railways of some additional revenue that can be generated from this station, said Vichare.When contacted, a railway spokesperson said some minor works at the station was yet to be completed and there was no communication on its operating time yet. It may be noted the Digha station was part of the two-phase revamp work on Thane-Vashi-Panvel route. While the first phase included constructing two platforms on Thane-Vashi-Panvel line, the second included another pair which would be commissioned once the Kalwa-Airoli elevated route was operational.

Stay updated with all the Latest Thane headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.