Mumbai: Rs 11,500 cr for revamp of 20 stations, rail links

In a boost to Mumbai’s suburban railway infrastructure, the MRVC has proposed projects worth Rs 11,500 crore under the third phase of MUTP, which will soon be sent to the railway board for approval.

In a boost to Mumbai’s suburban railway infrastructure, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has proposed projects worth Rs 11,500 crore under the third phase of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), which will soon be sent to the railway board for approval.

The railways plan to revamp 20 suburban stations, 10 each on the Central and Western Railway, apart from building the rail link between Airoli and Kalwa, doubling of the Panvel-Karjat line, quadrupling of the Virar-Dahanu lines, and trespass control measures.

Prabhat Sahay, chairman and managing director of the MRVC, said they have received in-principle approval from both the state and railway ministry for MUTP-III and they hope it will get included in the railway budget 2015-16. “We will try to get funds from the World Bank,” said Sahay, addressing his first press conference at MRVC.

Elaborating on the development of 20 stations under MUTP-III, Sahay said they plan to build an upper deck, where all utilities will be shifted.

The MRVC has completed the first phase of the MUTP and the second phase is in progress. “We plan to complete a part of MUTP II by December 2016, while the remaining work is expected to completed by 2019,” he said.

As the trespassing control work is in progress at 12 stations under MUTP-II, in the third phase, MRVC plans to take measures to curb trespassing in the 22 mid-sections.

The MRVC also plans to hold blocks for platform works at CST, to run 12-car trains on the harbour line after finishing other works at Wadala station. Sahai said they will extend the harbour line services till Goregaon, but Oshiwara station cannot be built this year because of the difficulties in the crossing gates.