Mumbai, June 5 -- A fortnight after nearly 500 slum tenements were razed in Garib Nagar in Bandra East, the Western Railway (WR) has finished erecting a fence around 50% of the 5,200-square metre railway land parcel to prevent further encroachment. WR authorities have also begun planning for the expansion of Bandra Terminus, with a diesel locomotive maintenance shed slated to come up at the Churchgate-end of the free-up area. WR sources told Hindustan Times that nearly all debris generated during the May 19-21 demolition drive has now been cleared from the site. "Work on constructing a protective boundary around the reclaimed railway land has also gathered pace. Of the proposed 250-metre fence, around 50% has already been completed," a WR official said, requesting anonymity. Nearly 100 slum tenements that were not included in the high court-mandated demolition drive will continue to remain at the site, within the fence being erected by the WR. "The tenement owners are likely to be rehabilitated by the state government in the coming weeks," the official quoted earlier said. Once complete, the fence will have three entry/exit points - one will be reserved for pedestrians including those residing in the slum tenements, while the other two will facilitate the movement of railway vehicles and maintenance equipment. "Securing the land is currently the top priority before any major infrastructure development begins," a second WR official told HT. The freed-up land parcel is strategically important for the long-term development of Bandra Terminus, which handles a substantial share of long-distance train traffic, WR sources said. A portion of the land at the Churchgate-end has been earmarked for a diesel locomotive maintenance shed, and a dedicated railway line from the maintenance facility to Bandra Terminus is under consideration. "The most significant proposal under consideration is the large-scale expansion of Bandra Terminus itself," said an engineer with WR. The expansion plan encompasses construction of an integrated station complex, three new platforms, six stabling lines, improved passenger amenities, and stronger integration with the suburban railway network. "Expansion of the station could increase handling capacity by nearly 50%, and allow more mail and express trains to originate from and terminate at Bandra, reducing operational constraints at other terminals," the engineer said. While 22 mail/express trains currently originate from and terminate at Bandra Terminus, there are plans to add another 50 express trains from the Mumbai region of WR. Residents of Garib Nagar whose homes were razed on May 19-21 pursuant to orders from the Bombay High Court have been forced to disperse in different directions, said local resident Faizan Qureshi. "Many with school-going children have stayed back in and around Behrampada and Bharat Nagar so that their children's education is not disrupted. Some have moved in with relatives, some others have returned to their native villages until the summer vacation ends, while a few have shifted to far-off areas such as Vasai-Virar and Mira Road," he said. While several families were still struggling to find accommodation, the picture would become clearer once the vacation ended, Qureshi said. Local corporator Ayesha Khan said there was no single place that displaced residents had relocated to. "Families have moved to different parts of the city based on where they could find accommodation or support from relatives, making the displacement highly scattered. It is difficult for me to exactly say where they have gone," she said....