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http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=MIRRORNEW&BaseHref=MMIR/2013/11/27&PageLabel=3&EntityId=Ar00300&ViewMode=HTML

    The Western Railway (WR) has lined up three ambitious projects to cut recent train delays that have made the everyday commute a nightmare for lakhs of Mumbaikars.
    The suburban network, which until last year prided itself on its punctuality, has been facing 10 to 20-minute delays since March, when it increased the number of services. The delays result from a host of bottlenecks exposed by the increased frequency, from complex track alignment, narrow platforms to outdated signalling.
    Now, railway officials have decided to solve the problems at three major stations — Borivali, Andheri and Dadar — as part of what they are calling one of WR’s biggest suburban overhauls.
    The three projects will involve remodelling of tracks on the Dahisar-Borivali stretch and on Andheri section, and widening of a platform at Dadar, two major engineering challenges on a transit system cramped for space. WR BOTTLENECKS
“We are finalising details of the projects that will help decongest the suburban network,” said Divisional Railway Manager Shailendra Kumar. “The work will be carried out over the next two years. The tender for Borivali has been issued.”
    Among the city’s three train networks –– Main, Harbour andWestern—WR was considered the best, mainly because of its punctuality. That changed after it increased the number of daily train services from 1,051 to 1,305, and reduced the time between two train arrivals to three minutes from four. Now, 50 to 60 trains run behind schedule daily.
    “Our main focus now is to improve the timings, so commuters are not inconvenienced,” Kumar said. The track remodelling projects planned for Borivali, Andheri and Dadar stations may begin as early as next month. The work will speed up movement of trains on these crucial sections.
    “At Borivali, two south-bound trains currently cannot enter platform 5 and 6 simultaneously. One train has to wait,which has a knock-on effect on other services,”asenior WR official said. The problem is caused by the alignment of the crossover, the point where two sets of rails converge, before Borivali. “The shifting of this crossover towards Dahisar will speed up entry of trains at Borivali,” the official said.
    A similar exercise will be carried out at Andheri and Dadar. “There are many crossovers near Andheri, which force north and south-bound trains to slow down,”hesaid.AtDadar, south-bound fast trains face delays because their designated platform, No 4, is narrow. Also, overcrowding at the platform forces trains to halt longer, delaying services. The platform will be widened after realignment of tracks.