Publication: The Times Of India, Mumbai
Date: 04/08/2005
Section: Pg 05 - City
Page Number: 5
Rly staff work on Roha-Panvel line
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Mumbai: Even as commuters went berserk at Mumbra and Ghatkopar stations to
protest the disruption of services, a sea of labourers were toiling away near
Kasu railway station, 117 kms from Mumbai, to lay 500 metres of tracks washed
away in the rains on July 25.
The track on the Panvel-Roha section of Central Railway was cut into two
when rain washed away the ground beneath. Principal Chief Engineer Subodh Jain,
who toured the site along with journalists on Wednesday said, "Right now we will
construct a temporary bridge for the movement of trains. Train movement should
resume by August 6.''
The track which runs parallel to the Mumbai-Goa Highway had been submerged
in the downpour which also damaged homes in the neighbouring village of
Pandarpur.
While the railways have been working overtime to fix the damage, CR
officials say a major disaster was averted due to the alertness of a staffer
patrolling the section. It was he who informed Kasu railway station about the
tracks being washed away.
"The Rajdhani which left Mumbai on July 25 was to pass the track. The patrol
man Murgesh informed the station master and the train was halted at Kasu,'' said
Jain.
Murgesh, a CR employee for the last 22 years, does not make much of it
though. He says he was merely doing his job, but he is happy that he was able to
save some 400 passengers. "I was patrolling the area checking the tracks and its
fittings. I saw water gushing onto the tracks and knew it would soon be wiped
away.
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