Western Railway conducts field studies for CST-Churchgate rail link

The Western Railway has begun primary field studies for a preliminary engineering survey for a new local line between CST-Churchgate. Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced a survey to be carried out to link the 1 km distance of CST and Churchgate in her second railway budget early this year.

“The WR will take up the preliminary engineering and traffic survey after March 2011. However, we have begun work on the basic field studies and ground work that needs to be undertaken before the actual survey begins,” a senior official said.

“The study would see if the link would be over, under or on the ground level and if it would benefit us at all,” the officer added.

Railway officials said that the route could either be an underground rail link or an elevated corridor. The plan had been in place for nearly two decades, and has been discussed at several meetings, but has now received a boost as the railway minister has included in the budget.

Officials felt an underground link via Cross Maidan to the Carnac Bunder area would be an ideal one.