Prabhu Makes Mumbai Smile

Prabhu Makes Mumbai Smile

FPJ BureauUpdated: Saturday, June 01, 2019, 03:46 AM IST
article-image

Mumbai : In what has come as a relief for Mumbaikars, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu sanctioned the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-III) worth Rs 11,441 crore which will include laying of a new suburban corridor link between Airoli-Kalwa (elevated) on Central Railway (CR) along with doubling of tracks between Panvel-Karjat amongst others.

Besides, 20 suburban stations will also be developed at a total cost of Rs 1,950 crore which will have an integrated transportation system. Along with this, commuters will also benefit, as 846 additional coaches will be procured under the MUTP-III.

The projects sanctioned under the MUTP-III have seen a substantial rise in passenger density over the last couple of years. The doubling of line between Panvel-Karjat at a cost of Rs 2,204 crore have seen a growth of nearly 40,000 passengers in the year 2014-15, according to a survey conducted by Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC). These projects despite being proposed by the railways back in 2011 were stuck due to lack of political will. However, following the sanctioning they are expected to be completed in next 5 years.

The 8 km link from Airoli to Kalwa as an elevated corridor will connect the trans-harbour line to the mainline. Navi Mumbai residents will benefit from this line which will connect the trans-harbour line that runs from Thane to Vashi with Panvel of the mainline.

Along with the new lines, commuters will also benefit as 846 additional coaches will be procured under the MUTP-III. The new coaches will be procured at a cost of Rs 2,899 crore over the period of next 10 years. These will replace the old coaches that causes disruptions frequently.

Further under MUTP-III, 20 suburban stations will be developed at a total cost of Rs 1,950 crore which will have an integrated transportation system wherein there will be a separate area for autorickshaws and taxi parking. Also, these stations will have a better ticketing facility along with escalators, elevators and Foot Over Bridges (FOB). The phase-III will also take care of the trespassing at mid-section with construction of an FOB in between two stations.

The 20 stations are Virar, Bhayander, Mira Road, Borivali, Goregaon, Andheri, Bandra, Dadar, Lower Parel, Mumbai Central on the western line; Shahad, Kalyan, Dombivli, Thane, Mulund, Ghatkopar, Kurla, Dadar on the Central Main line and Chembur and Wadala on Harbour line.

To resolve the ticketing woes of the suburban commuters ‘Project 5 minutes’ has been launched under which a commuter will not have to spend more than 5 minutes on the purchase of unreserved tickets. General Manager of Central and Western Railways, SK Sood said, “The goal will be achieved by proliferation of the mobile ticketing which has been started on all suburban stations. Apart from which there will be ATVM, CVM and Hotkeys also set up.”

The budget also laid stress on controlling trespassing by eliminating unmanned and manned railway crossings across 12 stations by constructing Road Over Bridges and Road Under Bridges. The trespass control would be the last project in which around Rs 520 crore would be spent in fencing the railway line throughout Mumbai so as to avoid deaths.

[alert type=”e.g. warning, danger, success, info” title=””]

More in store for City 

Soon Mumbaikars might be able to catch a long distance train from Panvel, as part of the satellite terminus sanctioned under the railway budget, an additional terminus is being set up at Panvel. SK Sood said, “While the coaching complex at Panvel is under process, we have also suggested construction of another complex at Thakurli (on Central Railway) and Vasai on the Western Railway is being considered.”

The much delayed air-conditioned locals are expected to arrive by September 2015. After Prabhu mentioned running of air-conditioned locals on the suburban network, Sood said “We are expecting the first AC local to arrive in the city by September following which the trials will start by October.” Besides this two of the 72 Bombardier locals will be inducted in the suburban section by March 2015.

[/alert]

RECENT STORIES

Navi Mumbai: Environmental Activists Write Letter To CM Shinde As 200 Trees In Thane-Belapur Belt To...

Navi Mumbai: Environmental Activists Write Letter To CM Shinde As 200 Trees In Thane-Belapur Belt To...

Mumbai News: MahaRERA Only Real Estate Regulator To Recover ₹ 125 Crore From Developers In 14...

Mumbai News: MahaRERA Only Real Estate Regulator To Recover ₹ 125 Crore From Developers In 14...

Mira- Bhayandar: 9 Municipal And Private Schools Organise Educational Rally Promoting Voting...

Mira- Bhayandar: 9 Municipal And Private Schools Organise Educational Rally Promoting Voting...

Mira- Bhayandar: Notorious Thief Who Broke Into Mobile Shop Robbing High- End Phones; Arrested In...

Mira- Bhayandar: Notorious Thief Who Broke Into Mobile Shop Robbing High- End Phones; Arrested In...

Govinda Joins Shiv Sena: A Lookback At Actor's Political Journey

Govinda Joins Shiv Sena: A Lookback At Actor's Political Journey