Now, elevated 6-lane rail-road corridor : The Times of India

Mumbai:



MMRDA To Submit Feasibility Report

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has told the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to submit a feasibility report within two months on constructing a six-lane elevated rail and road corridor across Mumbai on single pillars above existing railway lines.

The chief minister has also proposed integration of all modes of transport, such as BEST buses, Monorail, Mumbai Metro and Railways, so that one can use a single ticketsmartcard to travel seamlessly from one corner of the city to another using any mode.

The two announcements were made on Sunday at a function at which the state government signed an MoU with the railway ministry to launch a special purpose vehicle (SPV) on a 50-50 partnership. The SPV will speed up implementation of rail projects in the state.

Sources said an integrated rail-road six-lane corridor could come up along the CST-Panvel section. Fadnavis said the state plans to invest Rs10,000 crore to strengthen the rail network across Maharashtra. He also officially launched the Rs11,441 crore Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-III project for Mumbai region at the function.

The MUTP-III involves quadrupling of the VirarDahanu section, a new link between Airoli and Kalwa stations, a new corridor between Panvel and Karjat, redevelopment of 21 suburban stations and trespass control on tracks.

“Rail projects such as the Parli-Beed-Nagar link, a rail network in naxal-affected Gadchiroli and WardhaNanded, have been dis cussed for 15 years. But with the SPV , we will complete them within five years,“ he said.

Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu said similar SPVs will be launched in 20 states to speed up rail projects in India. A concession agreement was also signed between JSW Jaigarh Port Ltd and Konkan Railways for developing a 33.7km railway corridor, connecting Jaigarh port to the new Digni station on Konkan Railway . “International cargo from our ports will travel seamlessly to Konkan Railway , from where it will be distributed across India, enabling the railways to earn huge freight revenue and improve the GDP,“ Prabhu said, adding that the elevated road-rail concept for Mumbai had his ministry's go-ahead.

He also inaugurated a Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation Ltd (MRVC) eoffice, which will have a transparent e-tendering process and paperless communication.