CM writes to Mamata on 12-car rakes on harbour line

The project is likely to cost Rs 800 crore,which includes increasing the length of platforms,working on the signalling system and buying of new rakes. Train services to Vashi were started in May 1992 after the Mankhurd-Vashi bridge was completed. Though the population of Navi Mumbai has grown manifold,12-car rakes have not been introduced on the harbour line route owing to various limitations of the Railway.

Cities like Navi Mumbai and Panvel are fast growing areas in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). “The harbour line serves the fast growing area of Navi Mumbai and there is already too much crowding on this route,especially during peak hours. It is therefore necessary that the infrastructure on the harbour line is also modified to enable provision of suburban trains with 12-car formation,” the letter said.

The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) had conducted a feasibility study for the project,which is in the favour of introducing 12-car services on the harbour line.