MUTP enters final stage as railways roll out funding plan

With Union railway minister Dinesh Trivedi giving the go-ahead to new projects in Navi Mumbai and Thane, the prestigious Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), which seeks to transform railway and road commute in the Mumbai metropolitan region, finally entered its third and final stage on Wednesday.

Unlike the first stage, which began in 2007 and ended last year with substantial funding from the Central and state governments, and the World Bank, the cash-strapped railways has chosen to go ahead with the option of commercial development of railway land for funding various works. In fact, the railways has also made plans for “airspace exploitation” (the floor space index that a given plot of land has for use) for generating the required fund for projects.

Some of the projects under phase-III of the MUTP include operation of 12-and 15-car trains on the Harbour line, provision of a fast train corridor on the same line, a new suburban line on Virar-Vasai-Diva Panvel section and introduction of 15-coach trains on CR and WR’s suburban lines.

When presenting the budget, Trivedi spoke at length on the railway ministry’s plan to go ahead with commercial exploitation of land and airspace.

Rakesh Saksena, managing director of MRVC, said, “A plot of railway land in Oshiwara has been selected for implementing the pilot project for commercial development.”

Subodh Jain, general manager of Central Railway, raised concerns over this proposal. He said the right to exploit airspace “is a game-changer because now they (railway board officials) are telling us to fund our projects by earning the money required. This is important since we have always complained that Mumbai does not receive funds that are proportionate to what it contributes to the Centre.”