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AC trains, stn revamp, more tracks in ₹34k cr

boost for rlys
CSMT-Panvel Fast Corridor Put On Hold
ManthanK.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:

In a major boost to the city’s railway infrastructure, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by
PM Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved phase IIIA of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) at a
cost of Rs 33,690 crore, which will be equally shared between the Centre and the state government.

The timeline for completion of the MUTP IIIA projects, from acquiring AC rakes to adding tracks and
revamping stations (see box), is five years.

Two important proposals — the CSMT-Panvel hi-speed corridor (earlier called the elevated route) and the
Panvel-Virar suburban corridor have been pushed on to the backburner. MUTP IIIA was estimated to cost
around Rs 54,476 crore, but the cost came down as these two corridors were not approved.

“We can now prepare the design and invite tenders for the projects,” said Mumbai Railway Vikas
Corporation’s chairman and managing director R S Khurana. MRVC can now sign loan agreements with
multilateral agencies.

Almost half of the funds has been allotted for acquiring 191 air-conditioned rakes with automatic doors,
which means cooler rides across all the suburban lines in the next few years. At the moment, one AC rake
runs on the Western line.

The next big tranche has been given for laying tracks. MUTP II had approved the fifth and sixth lines
between Mumbai Central and Borivli; now, the two have been extended till Virar. The Harbour line will be
extended from Goregaon to Borivli. “The capacity expansion projects approved on WR in MUTP IIIA will be
possible because the elevated project between Churchgate and Virar was dropped,” explained an officer.

For CR, a fourth line has been sanctioned between Kalyan and Asangaon, and a third and fourth lines
between Kalyan and Badlapur. This will allow segregation of express and local corridors north of Kalyan and
enable smoother traffic.

A major allocation has been made for the communication-based train control (CBTC) system, which will
increase train frequency from the average four minutes to two minutes, for all three lines.

The major announcements were greeted with damp enthusiasm on the platforms, especially because of
major delays. “Past experience shows these will remain mere announcements. There is no visible progress
on the sixth line between Mumbai Central and Borivli, and the fifth and sixth lines between Kurla and CSMT
and Thane and Diva,” said Roy Jacob, a commuter who uses the WR and CR (main) lines regularly.

Railway officials explained they have been asked to review the necessity of the CSMT-Panvel hi-speed
corridor and the Panvel-Virar suburban corridor. It has been ordered in view of proposed multiple metro
lines, the transharbour sea link, the Rs 14,000-crore Virar-Alibaug multi-modal corridor, including 128-km
eight-lane highway with metro along the median, and a dedicated freight corridor that will free up existing
tracks.
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 2
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AC trains, stn revamp, more tracks in ₹34k cr

boost for rlys
CSMT-Panvel Fast Corridor Put On Hold
ManthanK.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:

In a major boost to the city’s railway infrastructure, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by
PM Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved phase IIIA of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) at a
cost of Rs 33,690 crore, which will be equally shared between the Centre and the state government.

The timeline for completion of the MUTP IIIA projects, from acquiring AC rakes to adding tracks and
revamping stations (see box), is five years.

Two important proposals — the CSMT-Panvel hi-speed corridor (earlier called the elevated route) and the
Panvel-Virar suburban corridor have been pushed on to the backburner. MUTP IIIA was estimated to cost
around Rs 54,476 crore, but the cost came down as these two corridors were not approved.

“We can now prepare the design and invite tenders for the projects,” said Mumbai Railway Vikas
Corporation’s chairman and managing director R S Khurana. MRVC can now sign loan agreements with
multilateral agencies.

Almost half of the funds has been allotted for acquiring 191 air-conditioned rakes with automatic doors,
which means cooler rides across all the suburban lines in the next few years. At the moment, one AC rake
runs on the Western line.

The next big tranche has been given for laying tracks. MUTP II had approved the fifth and sixth lines
between Mumbai Central and Borivli; now, the two have been extended till Virar. The Harbour line will be
extended from Goregaon to Borivli. “The capacity expansion projects approved on WR in MUTP IIIA will be
possible because the elevated project between Churchgate and Virar was dropped,” explained an officer.

For CR, a fourth line has been sanctioned between Kalyan and Asangaon, and a third and fourth lines
between Kalyan and Badlapur. This will allow segregation of express and local corridors north of Kalyan and
enable smoother traffic.

A major allocation has been made for the communication-based train control (CBTC) system, which will
increase train frequency from the average four minutes to two minutes, for all three lines.

The major announcements were greeted with damp enthusiasm on the platforms, especially because of
major delays. “Past experience shows these will remain mere announcements. There is no visible progress
on the sixth line between Mumbai Central and Borivli, and the fifth and sixth lines between Kurla and CSMT
and Thane and Diva,” said Roy Jacob, a commuter who uses the WR and CR (main) lines regularly.

Railway officials explained they have been asked to review the necessity of the CSMT-Panvel hi-speed
corridor and the Panvel-Virar suburban corridor. It has been ordered in view of proposed multiple metro
lines, the transharbour sea link, the Rs 14,000-crore Virar-Alibaug multi-modal corridor, including 128-km
eight-lane highway with metro along the median, and a dedicated freight corridor that will free up existing
tracks.

Views 559
 Shares
2
View on page

AC trains, stn revamp, more tracks in ₹34k cr

boost for rlys
CSMT-Panvel Fast Corridor Put On Hold
ManthanK.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:

In a major boost to the city’s railway infrastructure, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by
PM Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved phase IIIA of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) at a
cost of Rs 33,690 crore, which will be equally shared between the Centre and the state government.

The timeline for completion of the MUTP IIIA projects, from acquiring AC rakes to adding tracks and
revamping stations (see box), is five years.

Two important proposals — the CSMT-Panvel hi-speed corridor (earlier called the elevated route) and the
Panvel-Virar suburban corridor have been pushed on to the backburner. MUTP IIIA was estimated to cost
around Rs 54,476 crore, but the cost came down as these two corridors were not approved.

“We can now prepare the design and invite tenders for the projects,” said Mumbai Railway Vikas
Corporation’s chairman and managing director R S Khurana. MRVC can now sign loan agreements with
multilateral agencies.

Almost half of the funds has been allotted for acquiring 191 air-conditioned rakes with automatic doors,
which means cooler rides across all the suburban lines in the next few years. At the moment, one AC rake
runs on the Western line.

The next big tranche has been given for laying tracks. MUTP II had approved the fifth and sixth lines
between Mumbai Central and Borivli; now, the two have been extended till Virar. The Harbour line will be
extended from Goregaon to Borivli. “The capacity expansion projects approved on WR in MUTP IIIA will be
possible because the elevated project between Churchgate and Virar was dropped,” explained an officer.

For CR, a fourth line has been sanctioned between Kalyan and Asangaon, and a third and fourth lines
between Kalyan and Badlapur. This will allow segregation of express and local corridors north of Kalyan and
enable smoother traffic.

A major allocation has been made for the communication-based train control (CBTC) system, which will
increase train frequency from the average four minutes to two minutes, for all three lines.

The major announcements were greeted with damp enthusiasm on the platforms, especially because of
major delays. “Past experience shows these will remain mere announcements. There is no visible progress
on the sixth line between Mumbai Central and Borivli, and the fifth and sixth lines between Kurla and CSMT
and Thane and Diva,” said Roy Jacob, a commuter who uses the WR and CR (main) lines regularly.
Railway officials explained they have been asked to review the necessity of the CSMT-Panvel hi-speed
corridor and the Panvel-Virar suburban corridor. It has been ordered in view of proposed multiple metro
lines, the transharbour sea link, the Rs 14,000-crore Virar-Alibaug multi-modal corridor, including 128-km
eight-lane highway with metro along the median, and a dedicated freight corridor that will free up existing
tracks.
 Views 559

Shares
2
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AC trains, stn revamp, more tracks in ₹34k cr

boost for rlys
CSMT-Panvel Fast Corridor Put On Hold
ManthanK.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:

In a major boost to the city’s railway infrastructure, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by
PM Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved phase IIIA of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) at a
cost of Rs 33,690 crore, which will be equally shared between the Centre and the state government.

The timeline for completion of the MUTP IIIA projects, from acquiring AC rakes to adding tracks and
revamping stations (see box), is five years.

Two important proposals — the CSMT-Panvel hi-speed corridor (earlier called the elevated route) and the
Panvel-Virar suburban corridor have been pushed on to the backburner. MUTP IIIA was estimated to cost
around Rs 54,476 crore, but the cost came down as these two corridors were not approved.

“We can now prepare the design and invite tenders for the projects,” said Mumbai Railway Vikas
Corporation’s chairman and managing director R S Khurana. MRVC can now sign loan agreements with
multilateral agencies.

Almost half of the funds has been allotted for acquiring 191 air-conditioned rakes with automatic doors,
which means cooler rides across all the suburban lines in the next few years. At the moment, one AC rake
runs on the Western line.

The next big tranche has been given for laying tracks. MUTP II had approved the fifth and sixth lines
between Mumbai Central and Borivli; now, the two have been extended till Virar. The Harbour line will be
extended from Goregaon to Borivli. “The capacity expansion projects approved on WR in MUTP IIIA will be
possible because the elevated project between Churchgate and Virar was dropped,” explained an officer.

For CR, a fourth line has been sanctioned between Kalyan and Asangaon, and a third and fourth lines
between Kalyan and Badlapur. This will allow segregation of express and local corridors north of Kalyan and
enable smoother traffic.

A major allocation has been made for the communication-based train control (CBTC) system, which will
increase train frequency from the average four minutes to two minutes, for all three lines.
The major announcements were greeted with damp enthusiasm on the platforms, especially because of
major delays. “Past experience shows these will remain mere announcements. There is no visible progress
on the sixth line between Mumbai Central and Borivli, and the fifth and sixth lines between Kurla and CSMT
and Thane and Diva,” said Roy Jacob, a commuter who uses the WR and CR (main) lines regularly.

Railway officials explained they have been asked to review the necessity of the CSMT-Panvel hi-speed
corridor and the Panvel-Virar suburban corridor. It has been ordered in view of proposed multiple metro
lines, the transharbour sea link, the Rs 14,000-crore Virar-Alibaug multi-modal corridor, including 128-km
eight-lane highway with metro along the median, and a dedicated freight corridor that will free up existing
tracks.
 Views 559

Shares
2
View on page

AC trains, stn revamp, more tracks in ₹34k cr

boost for rlys
CSMT-Panvel Fast Corridor Put On Hold
ManthanK.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:

In a major boost to the city’s railway infrastructure, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by
PM Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved phase IIIA of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) at a
cost of Rs 33,690 crore, which will be equally shared between the Centre and the state government.

The timeline for completion of the MUTP IIIA projects, from acquiring AC rakes to adding tracks and
revamping stations (see box), is five years.

Two important proposals — the CSMT-Panvel hi-speed corridor (earlier called the elevated route) and the
Panvel-Virar suburban corridor have been pushed on to the backburner. MUTP IIIA was estimated to cost
around Rs 54,476 crore, but the cost came down as these two corridors were not approved.

“We can now prepare the design and invite tenders for the projects,” said Mumbai Railway Vikas
Corporation’s chairman and managing director R S Khurana. MRVC can now sign loan agreements with
multilateral agencies.

Almost half of the funds has been allotted for acquiring 191 air-conditioned rakes with automatic doors,
which means cooler rides across all the suburban lines in the next few years. At the moment, one AC rake
runs on the Western line.

The next big tranche has been given for laying tracks. MUTP II had approved the fifth and sixth lines
between Mumbai Central and Borivli; now, the two have been extended till Virar. The Harbour line will be
extended from Goregaon to Borivli. “The capacity expansion projects approved on WR in MUTP IIIA will be
possible because the elevated project between Churchgate and Virar was dropped,” explained an officer.

For CR, a fourth line has been sanctioned between Kalyan and Asangaon, and a third and fourth lines
between Kalyan and Badlapur. This will allow segregation of express and local corridors north of Kalyan and
enable smoother traffic.

A major allocation has been made for the communication-based train control (CBTC) system, which will
increase train frequency from the average four minutes to two minutes, for all three lines.
The major announcements were greeted with damp enthusiasm on the platforms, especially because of
major delays. “Past experience shows these will remain mere announcements. There is no visible progress
on the sixth line between Mumbai Central and Borivli, and the fifth and sixth lines between Kurla and CSMT
and Thane and Diva,” said Roy Jacob, a commuter who uses the WR and CR (main) lines regularly.

Railway officials explained they have been asked to review the necessity of the CSMT-Panvel hi-speed
corridor and the Panvel-Virar suburban corridor. It has been ordered in view of proposed multiple metro
lines, the transharbour sea link, the Rs 14,000-crore Virar-Alibaug multi-modal corridor, including 128-km
eight-lane highway with metro along the median, and a dedicated freight corridor that will free up existing
tracks.