In pipeline,7 new rail routes under MUTP-III around Alibaug,Uran

The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation is planning to add several rail routes in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region under Phase III of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). These routes will be added in areas near the industrial belt around Alibaug and Uran.

According to Pramod Chander Sehgal,managing director,MRVC,it has identified seven routes where new railway lines can come up. These routes are Panvel-Thal,Panvel-Karjat,Panvel-Uran,Ranjanpada-Kharkopar-Targhar-Seawoods and Thal-Alibaug. These lines have also been identified in the Comprehensive Transport Study Report. All these areas are potential growth centres and near the proposed Navi Mumbai airport. Even the proposed Mumbai-Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) would be near these proposed routes. Though the Phase III —estimated at around Rs 30,000 crore — is yet to be sanctioned,the Railway Ministry and the state government have identified a few areas for new projects, like running of 12-coach trains and fast-track corridor on the Harbor line,new suburban line on the Vasai-Diva-Panvel region,3rd and 4th line between Dahanu and Virar and 5th and 6th between Virar and Borivali,15-coach trains on CR and WR. “Phase III is yet to be sanctioned and both the state government and the MRVC is checking options regarding this. Next month,we are inviting people who can give inputs on what can be added in Phase III of MUTP,” said Sehgal.