Palghar: The Western Railway abruptly closed the railway gate near Saphale railway station at midnight on March 31 without any prior notice or display of information boards. This has caused significant inconvenience to commuters from more than 70 villages in the eastern and western regions.
This morning, passengers who arrived to use the railway services faced considerable difficulty due to the sudden closure of the gate. Commuters had to rush across the pedestrian bridge to catch trains heading towards Mumbai, and many missed their trains. Passengers expressed that the railway administration should have at least put up information boards before closing the gate.
The closure of the railway gates at Saphale and Navli was necessary to facilitate the commencement of the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) between Saphale and Sanjan on the Western Railway line. The Palghar District Collector had issued notifications to close both gates in the first week of February. However, locals opposed this decision due to the ongoing 10th and 12th-grade examinations, leading to the delay in the commencement of the Dedicated Freight Corridor project.
The Palghar District Collector’s office had issued written orders to close the gates. However, following strong opposition from the public, the Collector’s office conveyed that the gates should not be closed until alternative arrangements were made for the citizens.
The objectives included expanding the existing pedestrian bridge at Saphale, constructing two separate pedestrian bridges to the north and south of the existing bridge, and completing the Makne to Saphale flyover. While the work on the southern bridge at Saphale railway station is in its final stage and expected to open for traffic in a few days, the sudden closure of the railway gate near Saphale railway station has caused significant inconvenience to residents of both sides of the railway line.
Although the flyover construction at Navli has been delayed due to technical reasons, an underground passage has been made operational near the railway gate for two-wheeler riders and pedestrians.
District Collector Govind Bodke’s term ended at midnight on March 31. Following his issued orders, the railway administration decided to close the gate. Nets and barricades have been installed at Saphale railway station to prevent passenger traffic, considered a crucial step towards initiating the Dedicated Freight Corridor. A large police presence was deployed at the gate during its closure, leading passengers to believe this was to suppress any potential public protests.
