March deadline for extension of Mumbai’s Andheri-Goregaon harbour line

The project will provide direct connectivity between Navi Mumbai and Goregaon to more than two lakh commuters who travel on the line every day

The much-awaited Andheri-Goregaon harbour line extension of Mumbai suburban train network will get delayed further.

The project will provide direct connectivity between Navi Mumbai and Goregaon to more than two lakh commuters who travel on the line every day.

The project, which was supposed to be completed by December this year, has a new deadline of March 2017.

Seven structures are in the way of the alignment of the project and the occupiers want more time to shift.

“The seven structures are illegally occupying the suburban collector’s land for which the acquisition order has been given. The residents have been offered rehabilitation package and they will shift by December 15,” said an official of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), requesting anonymity.

Following the intervention of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Railways ministry, the MMRDA had offered rehabilitation package as per the World Bank guidelines to the occupiers of nine structures that has come in the way of the project.

The nine structures are four housing societies, one banquet hall and four commercial structures. The railways needs around 590 sqm, mainly from the compound space of some of these housing societies, which are adjacent to the tracks.

Two housing societies whose compound wall was coming in the way of alignment were offered Transfer of Development Rights. The other seven structures comprising shops and a country liquor bar are being relocated.

The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has demanded police protection to evacuate the occupiers. The state government has agreed but no drive has been planned. “We are aiming to complete the Andheri-Goregaon harbour line extension by March 2017,” said Prabhat Sahai, chairman and managing director MRVC.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Andheri-Goregaon harbour line project worth Rs150crore was sanctioned in 2008-09. It was scheduled to be complete in March 2014.

The officials were aiming to complete it by December 2016. But, the deadline for the project has been pushed to March.