Mumbaiites may be able to use new platform at Parel today after 8-hour CR block

During the block on this Sunday, slow trains on Down line will not stop at stations between Byculla and Matunga.

Central Railway (CR) commuters, you can soon start using the newly built platform at Parel from this Sunday after an eight-hour special block between 9.30am and 5.30pm.

After the block, local train services towards Kalyan will be operated from the west side of the new platform at Parel. (HT File)

On June 10, CR was forced to abort the block because of heavy rain and waterlogging. During the block on this Sunday, slow trains on Down line will not stop at stations between Byculla and Matunga. During the block, the existing Dadar-bound slow line tracks will be cut on south of Parel station and north of Dadar station for connecting them with the newly laid track in between.

In the past one-and-a-half decade, the footfall at Parel and Elphinstone stations has risen significantly.

“The new platform will decongest Parel station and the old foot overbridge (FOB) on the south CSMT-end,” said Sunil Udasi, chief public relations officer, CR. He said once the work is complete, Dadar-bound trains will run via the new platform.

After the block, local train services towards Kalyan will be operated from the west side of the new platform at Parel. Passengers alighting at Parel can use the newly built 12-m wide FOB to exit on east side of the station. For going to the west side and to the Elphinstone Road station, they can use the existing south-end FOB. “Three bridges will be there between the new and old platforms to allow the passengers to change platforms,” he said.