Navi Mumbai News: MLA Prashant Thakur Urges Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw To Upgrade Panvel Railway Station

Navi Mumbai: MLA Prashant Thakur has submitted a formal request to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging immediate attention to the long-pending issues and infrastructural needs at Panvel Railway Station. The appeal was made during Minister Vaishnaw’s visit to the station as part of his inspection tour of key railway junctions across the country.

During the visit, MLA Thakur handed over a memorandum highlighting the urgency of upgrading Panvel Railway Station, considering its growing importance in regional connectivity. He also requested that the Railway Minister personally oversee the matter and convene a meeting with relevant officials to implement necessary solutions.

MLA Thakur was joined by fellow MLA Mahesh Baldi, BJP District President Avinash Koli, District General Secretary Nitin Patil, Shiv Sena District Chief Ramdas Shewale, as well as local representatives and party workers.

"Panvel has become a crucial and rapidly developing hub for road, transport, and rail connectivity. Given its geographic and demographic significance, it is aptly considered the 'Gateway to Mumbai.' The station serves as a major junction for the Konkan Railway, services connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, as well as the Pune rail route, making it a key node in the railway network," Thakur said.

He also pointed out that with rapid infrastructure development in nearby nodes such as Ulwe and Dronagiri, the commencement of the Atal Setu bridge, the proximity to JNPT, and the imminent launch of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, Panvel is poised for significant growth in both population and commercial activity.

Thakur emphasized the need for Panvel Railway Station to be upgraded in line with this growth. He called for the extension of the subway connecting platforms 1 and 4 up to New Panvel (East) to ease passenger movement. He noted that the existing foot overbridge is insufficient for the rising commuter traffic and must be replaced with a wider and more efficient structure.

The memorandum also highlighted the incomplete parking deck on the eastern side of the station, which is causing frequent traffic congestion and waterlogging during the monsoon season. Thakur demanded that this work be completed on a priority basis.

He further recommended the installation of escalators and lifts at every platform to ensure accessibility for differently-abled passengers, senior citizens, and pregnant women. The construction of the station building itself, he said, is progressing at an unacceptably slow pace and needs to be expedited through fast-track measures.

Thakur also stressed the importance of creating an interconnection loop between the Harbour Line, Main Line, and Local Railway Lines, which would serve as a crucial link during emergency situations.

While Panvel Railway Station holds ‘A’ grade status, Thakur expressed concern that passengers still face several hardships due to outdated infrastructure and lack of adequate facilities. He appealed to Minister Vaishnaw to personally intervene and ensure that immediate action is taken to enhance passenger convenience and bring the station infrastructure up to modern standards.