In 2018, the then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley allotted Rs 51,000 crore towards rail projects in Mumbai in the General Budget Rs 40,000 crore for implementing Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) Phase 3A and Rs 11,000 crore for Phase 3. These two phases envisage expansion of Mumbai's suburban rail network and extending its metropolitan region.
One interim budget and 17 months later, both projects remain on paper and stuck at various stages of getting approvals. On the flip side, the funds allotted for building Foot Overbridges, escalators, installing CCTVs, elevators and enlisting drones to inspect rail lines have been well-utilized.
MUTP-3 pertains to the quadrupling of Virar-Dahanu rail lines, laying a new rail corridor on the Panvel-Karjat section, an elevated rail line between Airoli-Kalwa and procuring 47 air-conditioned trains. The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) — the nodal body implementing the project — has procured the necessary permissions from various agencies.
Though allotted Rs 11,000 crore on paper, only Rs 284 crore was released for spending in the Interim Budget, while the remaining was approved for its execution. Sources said that environment assessment of MUTP-3 projects is complete, and authorities are in touch with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, who is funding half the project with Rs 3,500 crore. Authorities are also working towards relief and rehabilitation of project-affected families. Sources say work will begin when land is released for MUTP-3 projects.
MUTP-3A includes extending the Harbour Line on the Goregaon-Borivali stretch, adding five to six lines on Borivali-Virar stretch, three to four lines on the Kalyan-Badlapur and a 4th line on Kalyan-Asangaon stretch. It also includes procuring 210 AC local trains. The cost of the project is pegged at Rs 54,777 crore.
Implementation is miles away, though approvals are in place. The Interim Budget in February released a first instalment of Rs 50 crore. In March, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave the nod to MUTP-3A projects worth Rs 33,690 crore. This put some projects – such as the elevated rail corridors of CSMT-Panvel and Virar-Panvel suburban corridor – on the back burner.
Last year's Budget also set aside Rs 245 crore for MUTP-2 projects which includes five to six lines between Thane and Diva, a sixth line between Mumbai Central and Borivali, and five to six new lines between Kurla-CSMT. All these lines will segregate suburban trains from long distance ones, and work on them has been on for a decade.
"We expect more money for MUTP projects that will take Mumbai's development forward," said Madhu Kotian, president of Mumbai Railway Pravasi Sangh.
Waiting At The Station
MUTP-3:
- 2018 Budget: Rs 11,000 cr
- Money allotted: Rs 284 cr
- 2019 Interim Budget: Rs 284 cr
MUTP-3A:
- 2018 Budget: Rs 40,000 cr
- 2019 Interim Budget: Rs 50 cr
- CCEA approved: Rs 33,690 cr
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