IF your holiday destination is Matheran, you tend to feel tired even before reaching there. Often it is because of the tiring one-and-half hour walk from Dasturi (mid-point between Neral and Matheran). But things might soon change, if the proposed shuttle mini-train service between the Dasturi to Matheran is passed.

Villagers from Matheran headed by the nagar adyaksha or Council Mayor submitted a request to the member of Planning Commission to Government of India – Dr B L Mungekar – during his recent visit. Manoj Khedekar, Council Mayor, Matheran said, “We have asked for additional shuttle service between Aman lodge in Dasturi to Matheran.”

 

Last week, the villagers of Matheran also met the Union Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on the same issue, asking him to expedite their request and start additional 12 shuttle services between the two points. A villager said, “There are just three train services in the entire day between Matheran and Nerul. Even taxis are not permitted beyond Dasturi and people are forced to walk all the way. This creates problems not only to us but also tourists.

 

There is another road starting from Panvel to Dudhani (another point of intersection to reach Matheran). But the state Government has stalled work on this seven km Dudhani- Matheran on grounds that it will affect the environment. The villagers also asked for permission for a ropeway trolley between Dudhani and Matheran, as the road construction required permissions from the forests and environment department, PWD department and even the Central government as Matheran is a hill station.