The State Government has plans to lay its own route to high-speed trains — at 350 kmph — between Mumbai and Nagpur.
While Indian Railways (IR) is planning a high-speed train (250kmph) between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the State Government has plans to lay its own route to high-speed trains — at 350 kmph — between Mumbai and Nagpur. The State Cabinet, on Thursday sanctioned the proposal to appoint consultants for conducting the technical feasibility.
State Finance Minister, Jayant Patil made a presentation before the State Cabinet and claimed that the Mumbai-Nagpur distance — 830km — could be covered in just 3.5 hours (with 3-4 halts). He proposed a similar train be introduced in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Patil told his fellow cabinet ministers that MAGLEV (Magnetic Levitation based on electromagnet) technology will be used for MMR, whereas high-speed railways will be ideal for Mumbai-Nagpur and other longer routes. The government is planning to appoint an agency for the former, while the expertise of international experts is being sought for the latter.
“Most of the investment coming in the state is in Mumbai and its surrounding cities. To maintain the numero uno position of the state in industries and ushering in progress in the comparatively backward Marathwada and Latur regions, connectivity through such projects will play a vital role.
Though Railways is a union subject, the state can float the project and enter into a joint venture with the Indian Railways,” Patil said. He claimed that the train would be the USP for the development of the State, which aims to reach the 12 per cent Development Index in the next few years. After Mumbai-Nagpur, the government plans a similar train for the Mumbai-Nanded (640km) route.
The minister — who visited European countries earlier this year — said Maharashtra could follow the Netherlands’ example, which had built its 900-km high-speed track in just 2.5 years through public private partnership.
“We will have to engage foreign expertise to expedite the projects. If IR has plans to introduce high-speed trains on Mumbai-Ahmedabad and Mumbai-Pune routes, both these projects can go simultaneously, but our trains would be must faster.”
The IR project would cost Rs16 crore per km, whereas the state government projects would cost (based on the cost in the Netherlands, Spain, China) Rs9-20 crore per km.
Patil said MAGLEV could also be used in MMR region to boost connectivity. “The distance between Panvel (where new airport is coming up) and Khopoli — 30km — could be covered in 10 minutes, whereas the 45-km distance between two airports (Santacruz and Panvel) will be matter of 15 minutes,” he said.
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