Finance Minister Arun Jaitely on Thursday approved projects worth ₹51,000 crore for the Mumbai suburban railway network, to which an additional 150 km will be added.
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An amount of ₹11,000 crore has been sanctioned for doubling the lines under Phase III of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) — or MUTP 3 — and approval for projects worth ₹ 40,000 crore was granted.
Track doubling
“The Mumbai transport system, which is the lifeline of the city, is being expanded and augmented to add 90 km of double line track at the cost of ₹ 11,000 crore,” the Finance Minister said in his speech.
The new tracks include an additional double track between Virar and Dahanu as well as a new line connecting Karjat with Panvel.
The Finance Minister referred to MUTP 3A in his speech and said: “Hundred and fifty kilometres of additional suburban network is being planned in Mumbai at the cost of ₹40,000 crore, including elevated corridors in some sections.”
Other proposals in the Budget include creating a new suburban corridor between Panvel and Virar, extending the Harbour Line till Borivali, and constructing new lines on existing corridors such as Line 5 and 6 between Borivali and Virar, Line 3 and 4 between Kalyan and Badlapur, and a fourth line between Kalyan and Asangaon.
