The Maharashtra government has issued a fresh Government Resolution (GR) which will pave the way for financing of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) 3A that aims at capacity expansion and modernisation of suburban network in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The initial cost of MUTP-3A was INR 54,777 crore, but it has now come down to INR 33,690 crore.
It includes extension of the Harbour line from Goregaon to Borivali, the 5th and 6th lines between Borivli and Virar, the Kalyan-Asangaon 4th line, the 4th line between Kalyan and Badlapur, communication-based train control system on CR and WR, station improvement, and procurement of 210 air-conditioned rakes.
However, the Central government has cancelled the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Panvel elevated fast corridor and the Virar-Vasai-Panvel suburban rail line, as well as reducing the number of air-conditioned local trains from 210 to 191. This would have increased connectivity between Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Palghar.
These projects were part of the MUTP 3A, and were set to cost more than INR 21,000 crores ($3.15bn).
The decision has been criticised as it comes at a time when infrastructure projects in the region are expanding, including the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, new airport and metro lines.
The CSMT-Panvel Fast Corridor was proposed as an elevated suburban rail corridor for air-conditioned EMUs (Electrical Multiple Units) on the Harbour Line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway.
The INR 12,331 crore CSMT-Panvel fast corridor was aimed to give respite to more than 10 lakh daily commuters of the Central Railway who largely depend on the 60-km slow corridor on the Harbour Line.
As per the plans, the proposed elevated fast corridor would have 11 stations and will be connected to the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport by 2023.
The Thane-Panvel Trans Harbour Line and the Nerul/Belapur-Kharkopar-Uran fourth corridor are the two other options for people residing in Navi Mumbai and Thane.
Another project connecting the districts of Palghar and Navi Mumbai - the INR 7,184-crore Virar-Vasai-Panvel suburban rail line - has also been scrapped. The corridor was supposed to run parallel to the existing Panvel-Diva-Vasai line of the Central Railway on which shuttle trains and goods trains operate.
This rail line was planned to cater to 9.92 lakh daily commuters by 2031 and 17.76 lakh by 2041.
Moreover, as per the state government resolution issued on April 11, the number of air-conditioned (AC) local trains to be procured in future has been reduced from 210 to 191.
The number of 12-car AC locals to be procured has also been reduced from 210 to 191, reducing the cost of MUTP-3A by a further INR 1,572 crore.
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