THANE, Dec. 22 -- The long-pending project of a new suburban railway station between Thane and Mulund has received a green signal from the Union Railway Ministry agreeing to fund and execute the stalled project. Thane MP Naresh Mhaske said on Thursday that Union railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conveyed the decision to deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde during a phone call, clearing the way for work to begin soon. The project, which had remained stalled due to a fund crunch faced by Thane Smart City Limited (TSCL), will now be fully funded by the railways. The new station is expected to significantly ease congestion at the existing Thane railway station, which currently handles over seven lakh commuters daily. Initially approved under Thane Smart Projects Limited (TSPL), the project faced repeated delays. After being impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown, the cost escalated sharply, rising from the original estimate of Rs.120 crore to Rs.254 crore. Speaking on the development, MP Naresh Mhaske said, "The sharp increase in project cost made it difficult for Thane Smart City Projects to bear the financial burden, raising concerns over the project's completion. I repeatedly raised this issue in the Parliament, including during the recent winter session."...