The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution supporting the naming of the upcoming railway station between Thane and Mulund after Anand Dighe.
As per the official statement, the resolution was passed during the general body meeting held on Wednesday, endorsing the proposal for the new station being constructed by Central Railway to ease congestion on the busy suburban corridor.
The new station is being developed to address the growing passenger load between Thane and Mulund and is expected to significantly reduce pressure on the existing Thane railway station, offering much-needed relief to daily commuters.
Originally, the project was estimated to cost over Rs 250 crore and was to be funded by the civic body under the Smart City initiative, with the Railways executing the construction. However, delays in approvals led to cost escalation, prompting repeated demands from the railways for additional funding from TMC.
As per the officials, following sustained efforts by leaders, including Shrikant Shinde and Naresh Mhaske, the matter was escalated to Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Discussions were also held by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, urging the Railways to take on the full financial burden, especially in light of Thane Municipal Corporation’s strained finances post the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subsequently, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw agreed that the Railways would bear the entire cost of the project and informed the state leadership that a formal proposal had been sent to the Railway Board for approval.
The General Body also passed a separate resolution congratulating Narendra Modi, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and MPs Shrikant Shinde and Naresh Mhaske for their roles in securing relief for the civic body.
The demand to name the station after Anand Dighe—popularly known as ‘Dharmveer’—was earlier raised in Parliament by Naresh Mhaske and later brought before the TMC General Body for approval.
Civic officials noted that Anand Dighe’s contributions to Thane’s social and political landscape made the proposal a matter of pride for residents. The move has been welcomed across the Thane–Mulund region, with citizens expressing hope that the new station will enhance connectivity and streamline suburban rail travel.
