The Ghatkopar-based Kalyan-Murbad line support group endorsed Sanjay Dina Patil, the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate for North East Mumbai, urging people to vote for him due to his commitment to implementing the new alignment of the third ghat from Mumbai to Junnar. Once established, this line will provide a third entry point on Central Railway’s main line, along with the existing routes of Kalyan-Kasara and Kalyan-Karjat.

“We will support anyone who will help us get the rail alignment from Mumbai to Junnar in the first phase. We have been fighting for a rail alignment between Ahmednagar-Malshej and Mumbai for the past 30 years. This alignment will link Mumbai directly to Vishakhapatnam, eastern and western parts of India, western Maharashtra, and the Marathwada region. There have been several rallies, protests, seminars, and meetings for the project. The last time the project was surveyed was in 2006 and in 2019 the first phase was announced till Malshej. Though practically it would have been prudent to have the first phase till Junnar or Madh,” Dineshchandra Hulwale, chairman of the Malshej Railway Kruti Samiti Mandal said. “Named the third Ghat Line project in the railway board files, the project will be of immense help to the regions of Marathwada, Ahmednagar, Junnar, and Murbad proving beneficial to farmers and the local populace for connectivity. It will also be immensely beneficial for generating jobs and promoting tourism,” he said.