Central Railway to upgrade Harbour line infrastructure

After successful experimentation of running 12 car rakes on the Harbour line, the Central Railway has decided to improve the infrastructure so that more such rakes can be introduced on this line.

After successful experimentation of running 12 car rakes on the Harbour line, the Central Railway (CR) has decided to improve the infrastructure so that more such rakes can be introduced on this line.

To implement this, a feasibility report has been prepared and sent to the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) by the CR. “We would like this infrastructural upgradation to be included in the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) Phase II,” said J N Lal, CR Divisional Railway Manager. The report has also been sent to City Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA).

According to Lal, of the Rs 152 crore allotted for the project, around Rs 80 crore would be spent on civil and electrical engineering works. This includes extension of railway platforms on the Harbour line from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Andheri and Panvel and from Thane to Turbhe. Work on the over-head wire is also proposed which is likely to cost Rs 35 crore.

Currently, the CR runs 30 rakes on the Harbour line. The railway does not run fast trains on this route as there are no additional tracks for the service. The areas on this line, especially Navi Mumbai, have seen tremendous growth in commuters in the past few years. “We have seen 20 percent rise in the commuters on this route and 29 per cent rise in the terms of revenue,” added Lal.

Sources also said CR wants Rs 300 crore for buying 15 rakes on the Harbour line route, as under MUTP Phase I the rakes procured by the CR cannot be used on the Harbour line.

“The project is likely to get delayed because of the upcoming elections. The new railway budget would only be passed after the new government is elected,” said a senior official.