Min orders fresh feasibility report on scrapped Kurla-Bandra rail link
Shelar posted on his social media handle, "The project, initially envisioned to ease congestion and improve direct access between the city's eastern and western suburbs, was dropped in 2011 on the grounds that Metro Line 2 would provide similar connectivity. However, with growing pressure from activists and citizens, the demand resurfaced."
RTI activist Anil Galgali, who was spearheading the campaign for restoration, raised serious allegations against the MMRDA.
He claimed the planning body altered the station layout under the pretext of Metro development and diverted land meant for rail infrastructure toward monetisation. "The city needs mass rail connectivity, not real estate deals," Galgali said.
Galgali placed four formal demands — revoking the Urban Development Department's 2018 notification, restoring the original alignment, preserving the proposed station sites in E and G blocks, and initiating an inquiry into MMRDA's handling of the project.
Transport experts argue that the Kurla-Bandra rail link could act as a vital pressure valve for overburdened stations like Dadar and Ghatkopar, especially with business districts like BKC continuing to expand.
The proposal to construct a railway line connecting Bandra and Kurla was originally floated to improve east–west connectivity in Mumbai. However, the plan was scrapped in 2011 by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which argued that the upcoming Metro Line 2 would serve the same purpose and that the project would interfere with Mithi River widening works.
Western Railway, a stakeholder in the initial plan, had stated that Metro line alone wouldn't suffice to cater to an estimated 36,000 peak-hour commuters.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
26 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya flags Metro fare hike in Lok Sabha
BENGALURU: Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, speaking in the Parliament on Wednesday, flagged the steep hike in Metro fares and slammed the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) for not publishing the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) report. He urged Speaker Om Birla to instruct BMRCL through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to immediately publish the FFC report. Speaking during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Surya said, 'About four months ago (in February), BMRCL hiked the Metro fare by almost 130%. Public transport services must be affordable to the common man. This hike has resulted in steep reduction in the ridership as well.' 'Despite multiple requests over the last few months, BMRCL has not made the (FFC) report public yet. This is a democracy and in a democracy, riders deserve to know the basis of the fare hike,' Surya said. Surya said the Metro fares in Bengaluru are the highest in the country with rides above 25 km priced at Rs 90. 'Following public outcry, the BMRCL rationalised the fare structure up to a 71% hike but the fares are still hampering Metro ridership,' he said. In his Zero Hour intervention, Surya also called for the early operationalisation of the Metro Yellow Line, stating that Bengaluru is India's economic engine and is suffering from a big infrastructure deficit and the only way that traffic congestion can be addressed is through expedited Metro expansion and advancing public transport systems. He requested the MoHUA to expedite the opening of the Yellow Line and that it is expected to have an eight-lakh ridership. Surya also urged the MoHUA to expedite the approval for the Metro Red Line, which is awaiting the Union cabinet approval. The Red Line or Phase 3A of Namma Metro is a 36.59-km corridor which will link Sarjapur in the southeast to Hebbal in the north.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Release Metro fare report: Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya
Bengaluru: Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya Wednesday demanded the immediate release of the fare-fixation committee report, based on which Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) increased Metro fares in Feb. Raising the issue in Parliament, the MP urged the central govt to expedite operations of the long-pending Yellow Line. "The line connects residential areas with Electronics City, and over 8 lakh people will travel on the line once it is open." Referring to the fare-fixation committee report, Surya said, "Despite multiple requests over the last four months, BMRCL hasn't made it public. This is a democracy — the general public, especially those travelling in Metro, have every right to know on what basis BMRCL increased fares by 130 percent." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The MP urged the minister to provide necessary approvals for Metro Red Line project from Sarjapur to Hebbal.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Uttan-Virar sea link gets green nod
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has given its approval to the Uttan-Virar sea link project, to be built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Aerial pic of Uttan, pic by Yogesh Naik The BJP-led Mahayuti government is fast-tracking the project to enhance connectivity to the Vadhavan port mega-project in Palghar. The proposed sea link, which will feature three connectors, at Uttan in Thane district, and Vasai and Virar in Palghar district, was submitted to the MCZMA on April 9 and was cleared on July 11. State environment secretary Jayashree Bhoj said the proposal would now be placed before the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for approval. The Uttan-Virar sea link's connectors will claim 15.39 hectares of forest land covered in mangroves, in addition to 2.5 hectares of reserved forest land, in the eco-sensitive zone of the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. MMRDA will also acquire 208.6 hectares of private land for the project. Documents with MMRDA reveal that 9,075 trees will be impacted by sea link's connectors. Of these, 1,868 trees will be axed, 1,612 will be transplanted and 5,595 will be retained. They also show that 8.71 hectares of mangroves will be impacted by the Uttan connector and 6.68 hectares by the Virar connector. Transmission lines and a water pipeline will also have to be diverted. The Versova-Virar sea link project was originally planned from Versova to Virar. However, since the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is implementing the North Coastal Road and Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road (DBLR), which connects Versova to Bhayandar along the coast via an alternative route, the proposed sea link will connect Uttan to Virar. The project includes a 24.25-km-long sea bridge from Uttan to Virar. It will run parallel to the coast, at a distance of 1 km. It includes three connectors to improve regional access – the 9.32-km long Uttan (Mira-Bhayandar) connector, starting at an interchange near Uttan beach and connecting to Mira-Bhayandar via the main road near Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose ground. The Vasai connector will be 2.5 km long, connecting the sea link to an interchange at Way Side Amenities. The Virar connector is an 18.95-km extension to Virar, starting near Arnala beach. An interchange will connect to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
