The proposed Naigaon-Juchandra rail link, which is expected to provide direct connectivity between Mumbai’s Western Railway network and the Konkan Railway, has encountered another delay after Central Railway was absent from a key forest clearance meeting and the submitted proposal was found incomplete.
The 5.73-km double-line rail flyover is planned to connect Naigaon on the Western Railway network with Juchandra on the Vasai-Diva line. Once completed, the link would allow trains from Mumbai Central, Dadar and Bandra Terminus to travel directly towards the Konkan Railway and southern India without reversing direction at Vasai.
Minutes of the July 30 meeting of the Project Screening Committee (PSC) under the Union Environment Ministry’s PARIVESH portal stated that the proposal was deferred as the user agency, Central Railway, was not present and the required documents had not been submitted in full.
“The user agency (Central Railway) was not present during the PSC meeting, and hence, the matter could not be discussed and deferred,” the meeting minutes stated.
The committee also noted, “As the complete proposal has not yet been received, it cannot be accepted at this stage… the proposal will be deferred.”
Responding to the development, a Central Railway spokesperson said, “The Juchandra Yard Remodelling Project is of utmost importance to Central Railway. On the day of the Project Screening Committee meeting, the user agency concerned was engaged in urgent field matters. Consultants associated with the proposal were advised to attend on behalf of the user agency. The observations recorded during scrutiny have been taken up on priority and the requisite compliances will be submitted shortly.”
The proposed connection is expected to eliminate the requirement for southbound long-distance trains to enter Vasai and reverse direction before proceeding towards the Konkan Railway. This could reduce journey times, improve train operations and release capacity on the existing network.
The project was sanctioned in the 2018 Railway Budget, with ₹50 lakh subsequently allocated for surveys and preliminary work. Alignment studies and land identification have continued over the years.
The proposed route passes through four villages and requires diversion of 11.6 hectares of forest land. The forest clearance process is therefore a key requirement before construction can advance.
The PARIVESH portal is the Union Environment Ministry’s online system for processing environmental and forest clearance proposals. Projects involving diversion of more than five hectares of forest land are examined by the PSC before proceeding through the approval process.
Source: Mid-day
