Work on new Kalyan-Murbad railway line to commence soon

Railway officials said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Kalyan- Murbad line has been made and submitted to the Railway ministry and a final DPR is under process.

MUMBAI: Railways is set to begin work on the extension of the Mumbai suburban railway network in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) with a 28 km corridor to connect Murbad in Thane district with Kalyan. The ₹863 crore project was approved by the Railway ministry in 2019 and is expected to be completed by 2027. However, the work on the project will begin now as the Railways has allocated money for laying new lines in the union budget 2022-23.

Proposal for acquisition of land required for laying of the new railway lines is also under process (AFP/HT FILE)

Railway officials said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Kalyan- Murbad line has been made and submitted to the Railway ministry and a final DPR is under process. After completion, it will be sent for a final nod to the Railway Board -- the apex body of all zonal railways in India.

Proposal for acquisition of land required for laying of the new railway lines is also under process and will be submitted to the railway ministry for approval. The construction work will begin after the approval of DPR and land acquisition is completed.

“We have submitted the DPR of the project to the railway board and have responded to the questions from the ministry regarding the new railway line,” said Shivaji Sutar, chief public relation officer, Central Railway.

Senior Central Railway officials also said that the first allocation of ₹5 crore has been made the union budget work on the project will now be expedited. “We will commence work on the railway line as we receive a green signal from the railway ministry. By the year’s end we are aiming to start issuing tenders for the railway line work between Kalyan and Murbad railway stations,” said a senior Central Railway official.

At a cost of ₹863 crore, the railway line will be constructed between Kalyan and Murbad via Ulhasnagar railway station. Murbad is a rural area in the Thane district and is under-developed as compared to other adjoining areas.

Central Railway’s construction department will undertake the laying of the new railway line and the location survey for the project has been completed. Proposal for acquisition of land required for laying of the new railway lines is also under process and will be submitted to the railway ministry for approval.

“We will commence work on the railway line as we receive a green signal from the railway ministry. By the year-end, we are aiming to start issuing tenders for the railway line work between Kalyan and Murbad railway stations,” said a senior Central Railway official.

The new railway line between Kalyan and Murbad has been a demand from commuters and passenger associations for the last 25 years. A survey of the railway line ahead of Kalyan connecting Murbad and Malshej Ghat located in the Thane district was done in 2010 by the Indian railways but was later not implemented due to feasibility issues and land availability.

Commuter organisations have stated that now as the project is finally taking shape, the railway line will benefit residents in the Kalyan-Murbad belt which has poor connectivity.

“Travelling by road between Kalyan and Murbad takes more than an hour. The new railway line has been a long-pending demand of passengers as it will not just reduce commuting time but also create employment due to easier way of travel,” said Rekha Dedhia, member of the Kalyan-Karjat Railway Pravasi Mahasangh.