Mumbai, May 21 (IANS). Encroachment removal and redevelopment work is going on at a fast pace in Bandra East Railway Station area of Mumbai. According to the Railway Administration, till now 85 percent work of removing encroachment has been completed. Due to the campaign being carried out throughout the night, the work progress has increased.
About 1,200 employees have been deployed in this operation. There was a minor incident of stone pelting during the demolition of a religious structure on Wednesday, in which the police had to resort to lathicharge. However, the situation is now under control. Railways has clarified that now there is no other religious structure left in the area.
According to railway officials, a total of 500 illegal constructions were targeted to be removed, most of which have already been demolished. At present, some occupants are still refusing to leave the place, but the administration is engaged in the process of removing them legally.
Modern railway station facilities will be developed after the completion of redevelopment work on this important site of 1.31 acres (approximately 5,300 square metres). The estimated value of this land is said to be more than Rs 600 crore.
Railways estimates that two more days of work are still left in this campaign. The work of demolition will continue with the same force even today. Security arrangements have been tightened in the entire area so that no untoward incident occurs.
The Bandra East Station Redevelopment Project is being considered a major step towards modernizing the railway infrastructure of Mumbai city. After the completion of this project, there will be better passenger facilities, parking, foot over bridge and possibilities of commercial development in the station area.
The local administration and Railways have appealed to the local people to cooperate with the legal process and not to build any illegally occupied structures themselves. Railways says that the redevelopment work is being done completely under the court order and legal process.
–IANS
SCH/ABM