The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Phase – IIIA of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project on Thursday. The project is estimated to cost Rs.30,849 crore with a completion cost of Rs.33,690 crore. The target date of completion has been set at 5 years.
The project includes 5th and 6th line between Borivali and Virar; 4th line between Kalyan and Asangaon; 3rd and 4th line between Kalyan and Badlapur; fast elevated corridor between CSMT-Panvel; new suburban corridor between Panvel-Virar; extension of harbour line to Borivali; Kalyan yard segregation for long distance and suburban traffic; introduction of communication based train control system in Mumbai; procurement of 210 local train rakes; besides station improvement, stabling lines, maintenance facilities and technical assistance.
The Railway Board has notified the Vasai-Diva and the Diva-Panvel sections as suburban sections.
The Mumbai suburban railway network on Central and Western Railways has 385 route km. There are five corridors, two on Western Railway, two on Central Railway and one on Harbour Line. Every day about 80 lakh people commute in Mumbai using more than 3000 train services.