Mumbai: To improve suburban rail corridor, MRVC proposes Rs 50,000 crore project

Mumbai: To improve and expand Mumbai’s suburban rail corridor, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) proposed a project worth Rs 50, 000 crores. A new feature called Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-3A was added for implementing these works. This will be an extension to MUTP-3 which has been sanctioned in the Railway Budget. At a meeting chaired at Sahyadri Guest House by Union Railway minister Piyush Goyal and Railway’s top bureaucrat Ashwani Lohani with those representing Western Railway, Central Railway and Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC).

The MUTP-3A will include expansion of existing rail lines, introducing new rail corridors, procuring 210 AC locals and making arrangement for its parking, station redevelopment and improvements and improving signalling system using Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) which will reduce the gap between two services. MRVC has clubbed the projects under the third phase of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project, which was sanctioned in December last year. The plan has been proposed by assessing the city’s requirements in 2031. “MUTP 3A is not only looking at expanding the suburban rail network but also modernising the system and making it more safe and secure,” said a railway official.

Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister said, “Various works of railway are being undertaken in Mumbai through joint participation of the Central and State Governments.” Fadnavis had also directed the Ministry of Railways to follow up with all these projects and to set up a committee of senior officials to take decisions on this project. Piyush Goyal, Railway Minister said “The work will be done by approving the various projects proposed by the state government in the Railway Board meeting in order to make the journey of the suburban rail more comfortable and faster.”