Parsik Tunnel
The Parsik Tunnel is a 1.317 km (0.818 mi) long electrified dual-line railway tunnel which locates in Parsik Hill of Thane, Maharashtra, India, lies east to the Thane city, and also a part of Central line.[1]
 Mumbai EMU train enters into the Parsik Tunnel | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Line | Central line (Mumbai Suburban Railway), Mumbai–Chennai line, Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line, Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line |
| Location | Thane district, Maharashtra, India |
| Status | Active |
| Start | Thane |
| End | Diva Junction |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 1906 |
| Opened | 1916 |
| Owner | Indian Railways |
| Operator | Central Railway zone of Indian Railways |
| Traffic | Train |
| Character | Through Rail-passenger and freight. |
| Technical | |
| Length | 1.317 km (0.818 mi) |
| Track length | 1,681 m (5,515 ft) |
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) (Broad gauge) |
| Electrified | 25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line |
| Operating speed | 90 km/h (56 mph) |
| Tunnel clearance | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Width | 10 m (33 ft) |
This tunnel is used as a fast line between Thane and Diva Junction for bypassing the Freight trains as well as the Passenger trains and EMU trains of Mumbai Suburban Railway, to reach Kalyan in minimum time. The west portal of the railway tunnel is near after Kalwa railway station and the east portal is at before Mumbra railway station.[2]
Length and Elevation
The elevation of the railway tunnel is 45 m (148 ft) above the sea level. Whereas, width of the tunnel is 10 m (33 ft) with a height of 6 m (20 ft). It's one of the oldest and longest tunnels in India. It takes approximately 2 minutes for the train to cross the tunnel. The maximum Speed limit of the train to pass inside the tunnel is 90 km/h (56 mph). And on another hand, one side of the National Highway 48 goes above on the east portal side of the tunnel.[3] Which it makes reducing 10 minutes to cover the distance between Thane and Kalyan section of Central line.
History
After the Inauguration of the first railway line between Bori Bunder (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) and Thane in 1853 and Extension to Kalyan in 1854 which was laid by the GIPR. At that time the distance between Thane and Diva station was 9.6 km (6.0 mi) and the rail traffic was going higher, Due to that the quadrupling of Thane–Kalyan section was required. For that purpose, there was need for an alternate route for passing freight trains and passenger trains through Parsik Hill, The GIPR started construction of this tunnel in 1906, it took time 10 years to construct the tunnel and opened at the year 1916.[4]
After the construction of the tunnel, it became the third-largest tunnel in Asia in the year 1916 and categorized as the tunnel of the fast line of Central line with reducing the distance between Thane and Diva to 7 km (4.3 mi). Whereas the longer route of 9.6 km (6.0 mi) categorized as the slow line of Central line. And also becomes the landmark of a first-mile long tunnel constructed by Indian Railways, during the British period in India.[5]
This tunnel was electrified in the year 1925 with 1.5 kV DC by GIPR which was come under the electrification project of Central Main line between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Kalyan.[6]
After the Independence of India, and Incorporation of GIPR into the Central Railway in 1951. The Maintenance work of this tunnel was taken over by Central Railway.
On 5th May 2018, Central Railway converted the electrified tunnel from 1.5 kV DC to 25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead line for a smooth ride with less breakdown for the commuters.[7]
New Projects
Two new tunnels have been planned across the Parsik Hill. one of these will be parallel to the existing tunnel for fast suburban train and freight trains and the second one for slow suburban trains between Kalwa and Mumbra stations.[8]
References
- India has close to 20 mountain rail tunnels, Economic Times, Retrieved 04 October 2020
- Central Railway gets a proposal for the new station at parsik tunnel, Mid-Day, Retrieved 04 October 2020
- Iconic Parsik Tunnel turns 100 this year, A Milestone for the Indian Railways, Times of India, Retrieved 04 October 2020
- Life on the Local Parsik Tunnel, The Indian Express, Retrieved 03 October 2020
- History of Indian Railways Construction and Progress, Indian Railways Board, Retrieved 04 October 2020
- DC to AC Conversion of Mumbai's Central railways rail route completed, Economic Times, Retrieved 04 October 2020
- From May 5 faster Central Railway with AC power, Times of India, Retrieved 04 October 2018
- Two more tunnels through Parsik Hills, DNA India, Retrieved 01 September 2019