PALGHAR | September 4, 2026 — The Palghar district administration has sent a proposal to the Maharashtra government seeking about Rs 26 crore to build a bridge between Vaitarna and Vadhiv near Virar, after schoolchildren highlighted the danger of travelling across railway tracks to reach school.
The proposed bridge is expected to be about 700 metres long and has a preliminary estimated cost of Rs 25.95 crore, according to information provided by Palghar District Collector Dr Indurani Jakhad. The plan and initial proposal have been forwarded to the state government for the required administrative and financial approvals.
Residents of Vadhiv and nearby areas have reportedly lacked a proper road or other reliable transport connection for several years. The settlement lies along the Western Railway route between Virar and Dahanu. In the absence of a road link, residents and schoolchildren travelling to Vaitarna have been using a railway bridge and crossing railway tracks, a practice that exposes them to safety risks and has been associated with repeated accidents, according to the report.
A video made by school students about the difficulties faced during their daily journey was circulated on social media, prompting attention from the administration. Palghar MP Dr Hemant Savara also visited the location. During the visit, residents sought both a bridge and a jetty to connect the area more safely with Vaitarna.
The district administration subsequently carried out a technical inspection and prepared the bridge proposal. The administration said it was coordinating with the relevant authorities and pursuing the approvals needed to move the project forward. No construction start date has been announced, and the proposal has not yet received the administrative or financial sanction required for implementation.
Residents have also called for a jetty between Vadhiv and Vaitarna. Savara has raised the request with Maharashtra Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane, seeking completion of the technical and administrative process. The proposed water connection is intended to support the movement of ambulances, larger vehicles, two-wheelers, cars and other residents.
The administration has not announced whether the bridge and jetty proposals will be taken up together or provided separate implementation timelines. For now, the bridge proposal remains subject to consideration and approval by the state government.
