WR modifies elevated corridor plan,takes it underground

The Western Railway has modified its plan for the ambitious elevated rail corridor between Churchgate and Virar.

The Western Railway has modified its plan for the ambitious elevated rail corridor between Churchgate and Virar. But the project will no longer be elevated and will go underground from Charni Road to Churchgate,where a new terminus will come up under the Oval Maidan.

Two weeks ago,WR general manager Kul Bhushan and other senior officials met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and made a presentation on the feasibility of the underground section from Charni Road to Oval Maidan. The state government has forwarded the proposal to MMRDA for examination and will send a reply based on the findings. The meeting was also attended by Gajendra Haldea,advisor ( Infrastructure ) Planning Commission.

When contacted,Bhushan said: At present,the suburban section is saturated and there is no option other than an elevated corridor. As per the new plan,there is no need for extra land as the underground line will be made beneath the existing line.

However,during the meeting,the railways told the government and Planning Commission that it will need to acquire 15,000 sqm land between Grant Road and Charni road for the underground corridor. This plan will be finalised when Railway Board approves it. Most probably,the plan will be executed through the public-private participation model, added Bhushan. The nine or 12-car air-conditioned trains on the corridor will have capacity for over 75,000 commuters per hour, said Bhushan.

The Rs 17,000-crore project was first announced by then railway minister Lalu Yadav in the 2008 Railway Budget. The techno-feasibility report of the project was submitted by Technical consultants RITES and French firm Systra two years back. The study said an alternative was to build the track on three levels underground,surface and elevated.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram