Latest news with #MumbaiUrbanTransportProject
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Rail corridors to expand as MMR develops
MUMBAI: The state's push to develop the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) will see the expansion of the suburban rail corridors on both the Central and Western railways. On the agenda are new lines linking the Navi Mumbai airport with the MMR, separating suburban and long-distance train services, and extending rail connectivity from Dahanu to the proposed Vadhvan port, billed as India's largest port, in Palghar district. The Union Railway Ministry has asked the Central and Western railways to carry out surveys and studies for these new suburban rail lines. On the Central Railway, the ministry wants new lines connecting the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), the additional lines on the Asangaon-Kasara section, the Badlapur-Karjat section, and to separate suburban and long-distance trains. The ministry also wants a 75-km-long, third rail line on the Panvel-Roha route, on the edge of MMR. On the Western Railway, the railway will survey the Dahanu-Vadhavan Port line for expansion. This is the first time the railways are considering connecting airports with suburban rail lines, alongside the metro rail. Railway sources in Mumbai said they have been asked to survey locations for two separate rail lines connected to NMIA. The first is a 4-km-long line from Khandeshwar station to NMIA on the CSMT-Panvel Harbour Line and the other is a 1-km-long line from Targhar to NMIA on the Seawoods/Belapur-Uran rail corridor. The estimated cost of the survey for the two proposed rail extensions is ₹10 lakh. The railways will also execute two projects to augment capacity. One is the fourth line on the Asangaon-Kasara route, an extension to the ongoing work on the Kalyan-Asangaon line. The Asangaon-Kasara line will be 35-km long and will separate suburban and long-distance trains, thus addressing issues of congestion and delays. Land acquisition for the 32-kms-long Kalyan-Asangaon corridor is underway. Similarly, the Central Railway will study the possibility of adding three to four lines on the Badlapur-Karjat section, which has been approved under the PM Gati Shakti scheme. This rail corridor will be implemented under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project phase-3A at a cost of ₹1,510 crore. It will benefit the towns of Badlapur, Ambarnath and Ulhasnagar as suburban services will increase once suburban and long-distance lines are separated. The railways also plan to link the proposed Vadhavan Port to a rail line from Dahanu. An official with the Western Railway said this would bring long-term benefits as there will also be a dedicated freight corridor near the port.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
WR's Bandra Terminus-Borivli 6th line set for July completion
Mumbai: The Western Railway (WR) is inching closer to completing the much-delayed 30-km sixth line between Bandra Terminus and Borivli, with work on the final 3.7-km stretch between Kandivli and Borivli now expected to be completed in commissioned, the extension is expected to significantly improve the punctuality of long-distance trains by easing congestion on the existing network. At present, the sixth line—commissioned up to Goregaon in Nov 2022 and extended to Kandivli in Oct 2023 — is operational only between Bandra Terminus and Kandivli. It currently handles around 20 mail and express trains every day."The sixth line is a dedicated corridor for long-distance trains, and extending it up to Borivali will help us streamline operations and reduce delays," a senior WR official said. "We are in the final stages of completing this stretch and are working on critical components like dismantling an infringing structure and re-girdering Major Bridge 61 with a pre-stressed concrete slab."Meanwhile, the fifth line originates from Mumbai Central and ends at Borivli. However, a key 5-km section between Mahim and Khar remains incomplete due to encroachments. Western Railway commissioned the fifth line between Mumbai Central and Mahim in 1993 and between Santacruz and Borivali in 2002, but the missing link continues to hamper full-scale operations."The missing link on the fifth line has been a persistent bottleneck. Without that, we can't fully segregate suburban and long-distance trains, which is critical to our operational efficiency," the official there are four lines between Churchgate-Marine Lines and Borivli-Virar, with the fifth line running between Mumbai Central and Borivli, and the sixth between Bandra Terminus and sixth line project, a key component of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-II), has faced repeated delays and cost overruns. Initially estimated at Rs 5,300 crore, the revised cost of the project now stands at Rs 8,087 crore. The project includes three phases—Vile Parle to Kandivli (completed), Kandivli to Borivli (underway), and Mumbai Central to Khar (yet to begin).
Time of India
05-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
State OKs clearing over 29ha of forest land for 2 rly projects
Mumbai: The state govt has granted final approval to clear 29.32 hectares of forest land across Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar districts to pave the way for two critical railway infrastructure projects — the 5th and 6th lines between Borivli and Virar, and the 3rd line between Kalyan and Kasara. The Western Railway stretch between Borivli and Virar will see 12.78 hectares of mangrove land cleared. This includes 3.68 hectares in Dahisar, 1.42 hectares in Penkar Pada in Thane, and 7.66 hectares in Umale village in Palghar. These lines will allow for dedicated corridors for suburban trains and long-distance mail/express services, reducing congestion and delays. Meanwhile, the Central Railway's Kalyan–Kasara third line will require clearing 16.54 hectares of forest land across 17 villages in Thane district. These include reserved forests, rehabilitated private forests, and finally notified forest areas. The Chief Conservator of Forests granted conditional approval for the work, valid until Dec 5, 2025. The forest department mandated that natural water bodies, including rivers and streams, must remain unaffected during the project execution. The Borivli–Virar 5th and 6th line project is being implemented by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) 3A. It spans 26 kilometres and carries an estimated cost of Rs 2,184 crore. Once completed, it will provide segregated rail infrastructure for suburban and long-distance trains along one of the busiest corridors of the Western Railway. The Kalyan–Kasara third line, which was sanctioned in Sep 2015, is expected to cost Rs 792 crore. The project is being executed by the Central Railway and is crucial for easing the pressure on the existing twin-line corridor, which handles a mix of local and long-distance traffic. Work is also in progress for the fifth and sixth rail lines between Mumbai Central and Borivli. Ultimately, the Mumbai Central–Virar section will have six lines — three for suburban trains and three for mail/express services — greatly enhancing capacity and efficiency on this vital suburban and intercity rail corridor.
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
MUTP-4 focus on spurring development in ‘Third Mumbai'
Mumbai: The state government and the railways are working jointly on identifying rail corridors that will spur development in 'Third Mumbai', a 323-square kilometre area adjoining the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport and the Atal Setu. The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) will build these rail corridors under the fourth phase of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), which aims at improving transport infrastructure in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), sources in the railways told Hindustan Times. 'MUTP-4 will be futuristic. The broad vision will be on rail mobility and expansion of existing rail networks as well as development of new routes,' said a senior railway official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The project is still at a nascent stage and a consultant will be appointed soon to prepare a comprehensive plan and propose new rail corridors for the growth of 'Third Mumbai', officially named Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town, the official noted. 'The plan will be drawn up after speaking with Cidco (City and Industrial Development Corporation), which is building a metro rail network in Navi Mumbai.' Rail network The thrust of MUTP-4 will be on improvement of connectivity between KSC New Town, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and extending existing local train routes to areas experiencing rapid growth, said senior railway officials. 'New rail corridors will be planned in such a way that they will integrate with upcoming metro rail lines. We will also explore the possibility of developing access-controlled suburban railway stations, similar to metro stations,' a senior railway official told HT. Currently, officials from the state government and the railways are finalising the terms of reference for the project, based on which a consultant will be hired to prepare the plan. 'It will take around 2-3 years just to prepare the plan as it will have several greenfield rail corridors and railway stations,' said the railway official quoted earlier. Infra push Earlier this month, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth ₹4.07 lakh crore for developing infrastructure in the MMR, with a focus on 'Third Mumbai'. The MoUs aim to develop 'Third Mumbai' as a robust technology centre that will include data centres and global capability centres. The MMRDA has also secured non-binding lines of credit from premier financial institutions to facilitate infrastructure development in the area. Initiatives for which financial assistance has been secured include transport, housing, energy, infrastructure, multimodal connectivity, and smart urban development services. 'The new town will be planned with emphasis on eco-friendly development, addressing the needs of a growing population,' said an MMRDA official. 'It will elevate urban liveability and help realise the goal of making the MMR a $300 billion economy by 2030.' Last week, the MMRDA tied up with a Korean delegation to accelerate work on Third Mumbai. 'The interaction was focused on enhancing cooperation in smart city development, green mobility solutions, modernisation of infrastructure, AI-based urban management, fintech zones, and smart housing clusters,' said an MMRDA official. Third Mumbai is likely to have smart transit-oriented development zones, mixed-use townships, tech parks, industrial clusters, logistics parks, education hubs, data centres, fintech incubation hubs, and affordable housing, said MMRDA sources.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Underground water tanks to prevent flooding on tracks
Mumbai: In a bid to tackle the recurring issue of waterlogging that disrupts Mumbai's suburban railway services every monsoon, Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has partnered with Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for constructing underground water storage tanks on railway land. The move aims to provide a long-term solution to flooding that routinely affects operations on the Central, Harbour, and Western Railway corridors. The study, conducted under Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) 3A, will explore the potential of building large underground tanks capable of temporarily storing excess rainwater during peak monsoon hours. These tanks would serve as temporary holding zones for stormwater, reducing strain on existing drainage systems and preventing disruption to railway operations. The initiative will be funded by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). A senior MRVC official said, "We are exploring all available railway land, whether on the Mainline, Harbour, Trans-Harbour, or Western corridors. The objective is to identify viable spots where underground storage infrastructure can be developed without affecting train operations or future expansion plans." Waterlogging remains a persistent issue despite regular pre-monsoon desilting efforts. Flooded tracks not only cause delays but also lead to technical failures in signal and traction systems, severely affecting punctuality and safety of suburban services. The year-long study by IIT-B will include technical assessments of soil, topography, and existing drainage systems. It will also examine integration of the tanks with existing municipal infrastructure to maximise utility. The concept takes inspiration from BMC's successful model implemented in Hindmata area. Two major underground tanks — beneath Pramod Mahajan Kala Park and St Xavier's ground — have a combined capacity of 6.48 crore litres. These tanks significantly mitigated flooding in the region during last year's monsoon, with the Hindmata tank alone receiving a 2-crore litre capacity boost. If the study yields positive results, similar infrastructure could be rolled out across multiple flood-prone locations on the city's vast suburban railway network.
