THANE: Shiv Sena Thane MP Naresh Mhaske on Thursday, launched a blistering attack on the Central Railway administration, questioning the administration about the years of neglect through chronic delays, crumbling passenger amenities and stalled infrastructure projects faced by lakhs of commuters at one of the busiest railway stations in the country.Mhaske questioned the authorities at a high-level review meeting of the Mumbai Division MPs’ Committee, barely a month after taking review of delayed ongoing projects and inadequate facilities at Thane railway station following commuter complaints.“This bureaucratic inertia in executing crucial projects like redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, increasing FoBs, escalators, providing washrooms and drinking water facilities at Thane is unacceptable as the existing infra is fast proving inadequate to match the exploding railway commuter footfall,” he said.Mhaske said that he has also pushed for increased local train services on key suburban routes, including Kalyan, Badlapur, Ambernath, Karjat, Asangaon and Titwala, while demanding additional services on the Seawoods–Uran and Thane–Panvel Trans-Harbour corridor and extended operations till midnight.He has also sought fast tracking of Kalyan–Badlapur and Kalyan–Asangaon fourth-line projects and sought halts for Duronto Express trains at Thane and Panvel stations.“The fare concessions for senior citizens should also be restored while more Konkan-bound trains should be plied during Ganeshotsav,” he said while welcoming the introduction of a special Velankanni Express for pilgrims from Thane expected to commence operations in July.Mhaske added that railway officials, including Central Railway General Manager, assured the committee that the issues raised would be addressed on priority.
