Thane: Residents and officer goers from Airoli and Digha are facing immense inconvenience amid delay in operating the new railway station on Thane Vashi trans-harbour railway route.It may be recalled the new Digha station on the trans-harbour (THB) route was commissioned few years back and two platforms constructed by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) in February this year, thereby, raising hopes of thousands of commuters who travel between the suburbs 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. The commuters further say that they have to either take a circuitous 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 in order to board trains. It is surprising that the administration or the 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, 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 the commuters but is 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 is yet to be completed and there is no communication on its operating time yet. It may be noted that 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.We also published the following articles recentlyMaharashtra: Delay in inaugurating Digha station inconveniences commutersThe delay in operating the new railway station on the Thane Vashi trans-harbour railway route is causing inconvenience to residents and office-goers in Airoli and Digha. The completion of two platforms at the station raised hopes for commuters, but it is yet to be opened. Commuters are currently traveling to Thane or Airoli to board trains, and some are even walking down the railway tracks. A railway spokesperson mentioned that minor works at the station are yet to be completed, and there is no communication on its operating time.96% work on trans-harbour link complete ahead of December deadlineThe Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is making significant progress on the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Road (MTHL) and aims to complete it by December. The viaduct and barriers have been completed, and work is now focused on asphalting, installation of light poles, CCTV cameras, and toll infrastructure. The project includes the installation of lighting poles with a central control system, designed to withstand sea challenges, and a lightning protection system. The MTHL will be a 22km sea bridge and the longest in India, connecting the island city to the mainland.Agasthiyampalli railway station gets goods shed yardTrichy Railway Division has opened a new goods shed yard at Agasthiyampalli railway station in Nagapattinam district. The facility, the 25th of its kind in the jurisdiction, covers an area of 15,000 square meters and includes a concrete platform capable of handling a 42-wagon rake. The yard will be operational from 6am to 10pm daily and will handle all commodities except for petroleum, oil, and lubricants. Plans for a goods shed office, traders room, and laborers restroom, as well as a covered shelter for salt stacking and loading, are in the works.

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