Borivali ( ) is a suburban area located in the north-west section of Mumbai island. It may also be spelt as 'Borivli'. Borivali is approximately from Mumbai Airport and from Churchgate Railway Station. The estimated population of Borivali in 1991 was over 6 lakhs (609617).

History

Borivali town was developed in areas of what once used to be small villages called Eksar, Kandivali, Shimpoli and others which were situated on and around Mount Poinsur. It was between two rivers Tulsi and Poinsur.The existence of portughese church. and also the caves namely Mandpeshwar and Kanheri caves gives glance of rich history of this place. Borivali was spelt 'Berewlee' by the British and is also known as Borivli.

Landmarks

Sanjay Gandhi National Park lies in the eastern section of Borivali near the Western Express Highway (NH 8). The park has a few lions and panthers and a 4th century BCE archaeological site called Kanheri Caves is located within the park. Borivali is also home to the Mandapeshwar Caves which are located in its Western part. Gorai Creek is located on the western coast of Borivali. This place is famous as a crossover point for Essel World, Water Kingdom and a quick way to reach Gorai village. Veer Savarkar Udayan on L. T. Road is an idle place for all which have facilities like mini aquarium, boating, scatting etc.

Prominent Personalities

• Gopal Shetty (M.L.A.) - Former Deputy Mayor of Mumbai and BJP's Mumbai President.
• Vinod Ghedia - Deputy Mayor of Mumbai
• Rohit Sharma - Member, Indian Cricket Team

Railway Station

The Borivali Railway Station is a terminus for all slow, semi-fast and fast trains on the Mumbai Suburban Railway system. It also serves as the final city-limit stop for all mail and express trains on Western Railway before leaving Mumbai. As of 2006, there are plans to extend the Harbour Line to Borivali, and expansion plans are in full steam at the railway station.

As of July 2007, there are 8 platforms at Borivali railway station. Platform No: 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 (from Borivali (West) side) handle trains between Borivali and Churchgate while 4, 5 and 6 are exclusively used for Virar bound trains and long distance mail/express trains. The 1st platform also caters to Virar bound slow train and sometimes express trains. Recently, even 2nd and 3rd platforms cater to/from Virar/Bhayendar trains. The 7th and 8th platforms are terminal platforms.

Recently, reports have been arising of public discontent over the large distance between 8th platform and the 1st platform (approximate distance is 0.9 km). February 4 witnessed spontaneous public outburst of Borivali Commuters over this issue. The cancellation of 9:10 Churchgate Fast Local starting from platform 2 was abruptly canceled triggering the unrest until normalcy was restored in the evening.

The platform, sanctioned under the Railway budget 2009-10, had been announced after a protest by Borivli commuters paralysed services on Western Railways earlier this year. The station building was sanctioned in the previous budget and work on it started in May 2009.

Platform 6A will be used for long distance and suburban services as well as 15-car coach trains when they start. Platform 6A will be carved out of platform 6, after the existing platform's width is extended from 6 mts to 10 mts. The increase in width will also result in one of the two lines on the east of platform 6 being done away with. This means there will ultimately be two platforms called 6A-the one on the other side of platform 6, as well as another 330-mts long platform to be built. A new track will run between the two new platforms.

Colonies

People live in small communities called colonies such as I.C Colony, Chikuwadi, Kastur Park, Shimpoli, Yogi Nagar, Devki Nagar, Saibaba Nagar, LIC Colony, Madonna Colony, Marian Colony, Kanti park and Kanderpada.

In the Eastern part of Borivali, adivasi people were living in padas (Tribal name for their colony). The colonies were known as padas till their names were changed. The places are Rajendra Nagar, Dattpada, Devipada, Kajupada, Factory lane, Kulupwadi Road, Rawalpada and Devlapada and T.P.S. road

Hospitals and health care

The health care facility in Borivli is amongst the best in the western suburb.

There are number of small hospitals and Nursing homes which take care of health needs of the population.

• Bhagwati hospital is a prominent Municipal hospital on SVP Road.
• Karuna hospital is a prominent hospital at the beginning of LIC colony just off SVP Road.
• Vivek Pathology Laboratory
• Vibha - The Family hospital, Kora kendra, Near Macdonalds, Borivli West.
• Suvarna General Hospital, Kastur Park, Shimpoli Road, Borivali (WEST).
• Mandpeshwar Hospital, Rokadia cross lane (near Gokul hotel), Borivali (WEST).
• Apex Hospital, Chandawakar Road (opp. Sagar Darshan), Borivali (WEST).

Schools and Colleges

• M.K.V.V International Vidyalaya
• Suvidya Prasarak Sanghache M. H. Chogale Vidyalaya
• Saint Francis D'Assisi High School
• Mary Immaculate Girls' High School
• Shailendra education high school
• Ajmera High School/Ajmera Global High School
• Don Bosco High School
• Namdar Gopal krishna Gokhale High school
• Himalaya High School
• St. Lawrence High School
• St. Anne's High School
• St. Xavier's High School, Ratan Nagar
• Our Lady of Vailankanni High School
• Our Lady of Remedy High School
• Shailendra education high school
• R. C. Patel High School (Formerly known as New High School)
• Swami Vivekanand InternationalSchool
• Sheth G. H. high school (Borivali east)
• J B Khot High School (Borivali West and East)
• Sheth D.M. High School (Daulat Nagar,East)

References