Virar-Panvel suburban corridor and CSMT-Panvel fast line too will be part of MUTP's Phase-4 plan
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Thane underground fast corridor could soon be a reality. The railway authorities are working on Phase-4 of Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), and the fast corridor would be an addition post the approval from Maharashtra government and Railway Board. Apart from this, the Virar-Panvel Suburban Corridor and CSMT-Panvel fast line too will be part of MUTP-4.
Senior railway officials working on MUTP-4 said that the initial paper work for the same was on. "We are currently working on initial stages of MUTP-4. We have included the two rail corridors of Virar-Panvel suburban line and CSMT-Panvel fast corridor in MUTP-4. If the CSMT-Thane underground rail line gets a go ahead, then that too will be included," said an official from Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation.
The estimated cost of CSMT-Thane underground rail is around Rs 15,000 crore, the CSMT-Panvel elevated corridor is at Rs 12,331 crore while Virar-Panvel suburban corridor stands at Rs 7,089 crore. The rail ministry had earlier kept the above two projects in the back burner.
These three projects will improve public transportation and connectivity to northern parts of Mumbai. For a long time now, the 12 lakh odd rail commuters from Navi Mumbai were demanding a fast train corridor. Similarly the 70 kms long Virar-Panvel new suburban corridor would have provided connectivity to metropolitan region; thus also augmenting the areas there.
DNA had earlier reported about this underground suburban rail corridor between CSMT-Thane having only 3-4 halts between these two stations. This two line 33-kms long rail network will be a fast corridor expected to be built at a cost of Rs 15,000 crore. Highly placed sources in Railways informed that this was proposed after veteran railwayman E Shreedharan wrote to Railway ministry about the same. For the past few months now, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been studying the possibility of this route.
In fact in 2016-17, the two projects were the first ones to receive all approvals, and only thing awaiting was a go ahead from the Cabinet. However, these were merged with MUTP-3A as an umbrella project, and now it will lie amidst dusty files. This year's budget presented recently provided funds for MUTP-2, 3 and 3A, the last one being the recent and most expensive suburban rail upgradation project for Mumbai.
The suburban rail corridor is severely stressed with over 80 lakh commuters travelling on both Central and Western Railways together. Off these 43 lakh people travel on the Cental Railway itself. The CR administration has accepted that it is running train services beyond 150% of its capacity.
TECHNICAL GLITCHES A REGULAR AFFAIR
On July 18, a trolley of second coach from rear of 12598 CSMT-Gorakhpur Antyodaya Express derailed between Kasara and Igatpuri ghat at about 3.50 am. All passengers were shifted in relief train that departed towards destination via Igatpuri
On July 17 there was another incident trains running towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) were shut for nearly 3.5 hours between Ambernath and Kalyan.
There are only two rail lines connecting two far suburbs on eastern Mumbai, starting from Kalyan that leads to Pune and Nashik. The CR authorities run 154 services on Kalyan-Kasara stretch daily with Titwala, Asangaon and Kasara being terminating stations. They operate 216 services daily on Kalyan-Karjat route with Ambernath, Badlapur and Karjat being terminating stations.
Adding to the burden are the 200 outstation trains that arrive at and depart from CSMT, Kurla LTT and Dadar stations everyday.
MUTP-PHASE-4: BIG BOOST FOR CONNECTIVITY & TRANSPORT
- The estimated cost of CSMT-Thane underground rail is around Rs 15,000 crore, the CSMT-Panvel elevated corridor is at Rs 12,331 crore while Virar-Panvel suburban corridor stands at Rs 7,089 crore
- The 70-km-long Virar-Panvel new suburban corridor would have provided connectivity to metropolitan region. These projects will improve connectivity to northern parts of Mumbai.
- The suburban rail corridor is severely stressed with over 80 lakh commuters travelling on both Central and Western Railways together. Off these 43 lakh people travel on the Cental Railway itself
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