Now,Central Railway wants harbour line expansion under mega transport project

With the state government pressing for the proposed second airport at Navi Mumbai,railway services to the satellite city,at present provided by the CR harbour line,would be a key complementary project.

According to CR Divisional Railway Manager for Mumbai,Moolchand Chauhan,the CR plans to launch shuttle services between Kurla and Panvel. CR officials had earlier revealed plans to build an additional platform at Kurla. With the section between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Wadala congested,new trains can be introduced only from Kurla.

The division has written to the railway headquarters seeking that the project be included in the already sanctioned Phase II of MUTP. Chauhan added that the proposal sent to the headquarters has details of converting the entire CST-to-Mankhurd harbour line from Direct Current (DC) to Alternate Current (AC) traction. “WR would soon convert the section from Borivali to Churchgate to AC. Since the harbour line train goes up to Andheri,we have to convert this section to AC,” said Chauhan. This means harbour line commuters can travel in the relative comfort of the new generation Siemens rakes introduced as part of MUTP-I.

MUTP Phase II is a 100 per cent railway project with no road components. Pegged at around Rs 5,300 crore,it is to be executed by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC). Under the project,new rakes would be procured and the railways would work on laying the fifth and sixth lines between Thane and CST. The harbour line would be extended from Andheri to Goregaon.

Before the railway budget,the state government had written to the Railway Ministry about introducing 12-coach trains along the harbour line in Phase II. It did not receive a favourable response. “Phase II has already been sanctioned and it is not possible to include additional work,” said a senior MRVC official. CR officials,however,maintained the railways would persist with the demand,along with the state government.