Finally, Kalva FOB gets green signal from railways

THANE: The much awaited Railway Foot over Bridge (FOB) has finally got a green signal from the railway authorities and the work on the same is expected to begin soon.
The railway authority has given a nod for the work of the construction of FOB to commence. The bridge will connect Kalva east to west. It is considered as one of the most important FOBs since there is no bridge that connects Kalva east and west.
The eastern parts of Kalva have experienced major development in terms of residential areas since the past few years. Several residential chawls and societies like New Shivaji Nagar, Waghoba Nagar, Bhaskar Nagar and Ashok Nagar have come up here. Commuters have no option but to cross the railway tracks due to the absence of a FOB risking their lives.
If sources are to be believed then nearly 30 to 40 accidents, most resulting in death, take place every year due to crossing of railway tracks. Local corporator of ward 56 (where the FOB will be constructed), Ashok Bhoir, has been following up with this issue with the railway authorities and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) since the past few years. Since 2007, the issue was raised several times in TMC's General Body meeting.
As a result, the TMC also corresponded with the railways. Eventually, after three to four years the railways have given a no objection certificate (NOC) to the TMC for the project.
The issue will be again discussed in the next General Body to invite tenders for the same. As soon as the process of selection of tenders is over and a contractor is selected for the execution of the FOB, the work is expected to begin immediately thereafter. Bhoir said, "Rs 2 crores has been sanctioned by the civic body for the project and hopefully within a months time, the work on the FOB is expected to commence. Once the FOB is erected the residents of the Kalva will definitely get some relief and accident rate is expected to come down."