Parel railway station
 परळ | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Suburban Railway station | |||||||||||
 | |||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||
| Coordinates | 18°59′N 72°50′E / 18.99°N 72.84°E | ||||||||||
| Elevation | 5.935 metres (19.47 ft) | ||||||||||
| Owned by | Ministry of Railways, Indian Railways | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | Central Line | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 4 | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Structure type | Standard on-ground station | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Station code | PR | ||||||||||
| Fare zone | Central Railways | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 1877 | ||||||||||
| Electrified | Yes | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Parel is a railway station on the Central Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway, serving the Parel neighbourhood of Mumbai. The next station south is Currey Road; the next station north is Dadar. A footbridge links Parel on the Central Line to Elphinstone Road on the Western Line.
Parel railway station was opened in 1877.[1] The station has a total of 4 platforms, of which only platforms 1 and 2 are used for commuters. Platforms 3 and 4 are only for trains that carry railway employees working in the Parel workshop.[2]
The station's catchment area consists of mill-turned malls and business complex areas stretching up to Worli. Approximately, 22 lakh tickets are sold at the station annually.[2]
Parel Terminus
The plan for a terminus at Parel was first proposed in 2009.[3] The project is part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project Phase II, which involves the creation of the fifth and sixth lines at a cost of ₹900 crore. The creation of the fifth and sixth lines requires land acquisition between Byculla and CST.[2]
The project is proposed to be executed in two phases. In the first phase, estimated to cost ₹80 crore, one of the tracks on the western side of Parel will be removed to make way for a 408 metre long platform. This track, currently called Goods Up line, is used by goods trains moving southwards of Parel station. After the line is removed and the new platform built, the current Goods Down line moving northwards from Parel will become the first track of Parel station. This first line will carry all slow trains from CST onwards to Dadar and beyond (down local line in railway lingo). In the second phase, the line on the current platform 1 will be terminated to create what will be the Parel terminal line, to be used by trains terminating and originating from Parel. The line will have a connector to the slow line that goes towards Dadar and also to the slow line coming from Dadar. Trains meant to end and start at Parel station will therefore run without infringing with the movement of any other train.[2]
"The move is aimed to divide passenger load equitably between Parel and Dadar", an official said.[4]
The project reached the final stages of approval in November 2013, and CR officials expected to receive final approval by the first week of December. However, the railway ministry returned the ₹80 crore estimate worked out by the CR for the Parel terminus project and asked them to propose a new figure.[2] According to a senior railway official, "The railway board wanted CR to give a total estimate, including the cost for the fifth and sixth lines, and this was delaying the project."[5]
Foot over-bridges
Parel railway station has only one foot over-bridge (FOB) on the southern side of the platform. This creates problems for commuters during peak hours. Due to this, commuters used to cross the tracks on to the adjoining platform 3 and use the FOB of that platform. This prompted the Railway's to put up a fence between the platforms in order to stop commuters from crossing the tracks. This has increased the pressure on the over-bridge even more and hence forced the Railway's into assigning the Railway Protection Force and Home Guard to help commuters cross the bridge and prevent any stampedes. They also protect the commuters from any approaching trains.[6]
The FOB on the north-end of the station, which allows commuters to reach eastern Parel, is among the least used ones on the Mumbai Suburban Railway network.[2]
References
- ^ "Central Railway / Historical Milestone". Central Railway. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Binoo Nair (22 October 2013). "Parel station: A commuter's worst nightmare". DNA. DNA. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-long-delayed-parel-terminus-project-may-get-shiv-sena-push-1989833
- ^ Manthan K Mehta (21 December 2011). "Parel terminus plan to ease Dadar woes". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-long-delayed-parel-terminus-project-may-get-shiv-sena-push-1989833
- ^ "Commuters need RPF help in crossing bridge". Mid Day. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.