MUMBAI, 20 JUNE, 2020 (GPN): Navapur is a unique station, where the border between Maharashtra and Gujarat cuts right through this station, including a wooden bench on the platform. Currently trending viral on social media platforms is a picture of a wooden bench divided by Maharashtra and Gujarat’s border at Navapur railway station. Grabbing netizens and social media fanatics attention, the picture shows the unique railway station at the Taluka Headquarter in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra, not belonging to either state.

This the topic has amused many in the past with even Railways Minister Piyush Goyal tweeting about it being, “Separated by States, United by Railways” in 2018, it made came to the surface again after a Twitter user shared it and others took to their respective handles on the micro-blogging site to debate yet again whether Navapur Railway Station belongs to Maharashtra or Gujarat.

Interestingly, since alcohol is banned in Gujarat while pan masala and gutka are banned in Maharashtrathe, the implementation of laws on either side of the 800 metre station, with 500 metres in Gujarat and 300 metres in Maharashtra, are different.

While the announcements at the station are made in English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati languages, another unusual thing is that the the station master’s office, waiting room and washrooms are in Gujarat’s Tapi district but the ticket counter and police station are in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district at Navapur Railway Station.

Tweets about this bench have become  viral stating on a lighter vein, possession of liquor is legal on one side of this bench! Another tweet shared humourously, “I stay in Gujarat at Sanjan, the east of it comes in Maharashtra & west in Gujarat. If I wanted beer I had to cross over to east to have it. Also fafda jalebi on west side & crossed over on east side to have vada pav.” ENDS