The projected Virar-Vasai-Panvel suburban rail line and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Panvel elevated rapid corridor, which may have improved connection between Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Palghar, have both been abandoned by the central government. A state government resolution published on April 11 said that the number of air-conditioned (AC) local trains that were planned to be purchased in the future had been reduced from 210 to 191.
All these projects were part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-3A and were to be executed at an estimated cost of more than Rs 210 billion.
Bhushan Gagrani, additional chief secretary, state urban development department, said that the projects have been scrapped by the central government on the advice of NITI Ayog. The choices are being made as many infrastructure projects, like the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, metro lines, and a new airport, are underway and Navi Mumbai's expansion is accelerating.
More than 1 million daily central train passengers, who rely heavily on the 60-km slow corridor on the Harbour Line, were intended to benefit from the Rs 123.31 billion CSMT-Panvel fast route. For residents of Navi Mumbai and Thane, the Nerul/Belapur-Kharkopar-Uran fourth corridor and the Thane-Panvel Trans Harbour Line are their additional possibilities.
Just like the main line connecting Karjat and Kasara, there was also a demand to have a fast corridor connecting Panvel. However, it comes as a shock that the project has been shelved, said Madhu Kotian, president of Mumbai Rail whereas Pravasi Sangh said that they would take up this issue with authorities since they could not let go of such an important project.
According to the designs, the elevated rapid corridor would have included 11 stations and a connection to the envisioned Navi Mumbai airport. By 2031 and 2041, the line was expected to serve more than 1 million and 1.3 million commuters, respectively.
The Rs 71.84 billion Virar-Vasai-Panvel suburban rail route, which would have connected the districts of Palghar and Navi Mumbai, has also been abandoned. The Panvel-Diva-Vasai line of the central railway, where shuttle trains and cargo trains currently travel, was meant to run parallel to the corridor. By 2031 and 2041, this rail route was expected to serve 0.9 million and 1.7 million daily commuters, respectively.
The centre has also curtailed the number of 12-car AC locals to be procured from 210 to 191, thus reducing the cost of MUTP-3A by another Rs 15.72 billion. The initial cost of MUTP-3A was Rs 547.7 billion, which now has been trimmed to Rs 336.9 billion. Recently, the Maharashtra government sanctioned Rs 1 billion for MUTP-3A, while multiple agencies like MMRDA, MCGM, CIDCO, NMMC, and other civic bodies will together pool in Rs 133.4 billion.
Also Read
