Government and AIIB sign USD 500-million loan agreement for MUTP-3

In a move that could significantly boost connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the centre, the Maharashtra government, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), on August, 24, 2020, signed a loan agreement for the USD 500-million (Rs 3,500 crore) Mumbai Urban Transport Project-3. Under the project, Mumbai will see the expansion of the railway network in the suburbs. The connectivity between the eastern and western parts of the city, will also see significant improvement through the project.

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The entire cost of the project is estimated at Rs 10,947 crores, of which AIIB will provide Rs 3,500 crores.

Under the project, a suburban railway corridor will be built between Panvel and Karjat, while the railway line between Virar and Dahanu will be quadrupled. A total of 47 air-conditioned local trains will also be purchased, as part of the project. An elevated corridor between Airoli and Kalwa stations will also be built, as part of the plan.

The project is expected to increase network capacity in the region, along with reducing journey times and fatal accidents.

(With inputs from Sunita Mishra)

Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) gets Rs 550 crores in Budget 2020

February 7, 2020: According to the ‘pink book’, a budget document containing detailed allocations of various projects and works, which was released on February 5, 2020, the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) has received an allocation of Rs 550 crores from the centre. Of this, Rs 200 crores has been allocated for MUTP-2, Rs 300 crores for MUTP-3 and Rs 50 crores for MUTP-3A. However, the MUTP has received Rs 28 crores less funds compared to financial year 2019-20, when the total allocation for the MUTP was Rs 578 crores, rail activists said.

The Budget 2020 document stated that the Belapur-Seawood-Uran project, which will provide connectivity to the proposed Navi Mumbai Airport and Raigad district, would get Rs 100 crores in the financial year 2020-21. Focusing on the proposed private train operations from the city, the government has allocated Rs eight crores for the Panvel Terminus in Navi Mumbai and Rs one crore for a rail terminus at Jogeshwari in the western suburbs, a railway official said.

The Western Railway received Rs 4.24 crores for the conservation and restoration of Bandra station as a Grade-I heritage structure. The Central Railway said Rs 55 crores was allocated for the 67 km-long third line between Kalyan and Kasara stations.

MUTP Phase 3A: Centre approves Rs 33,690 crores for Mumbai railway network

The centre has approved projects worth Rs 33,690 crores under Phase 3A of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project, for expansion of the suburban rail network in Mumbai, officials have said

March 8, 2019: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, on March 7, 2019, approved several projects of Phase 3A of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) worth Rs 33,690 crores, railway officials said.

“The centre approved Rs 33,690-crores for the MUTP 3A project for infrastructure expansion of Mumbai’s suburban railways. This will help augment new lines, improve signalling system, development of stations and more AC train operations in Mumbai and neighbouring cities,” a senior official of the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) said.

The MRVC is a joint venture of the Maharashtra government and the Indian Railways and is mandated to plan, develop and execute Mumbai’s suburban railway projects.

Among the projects that will now see the light of day are the extension of the Harbour Line from Goregaon to Borivali, a fifth and sixth line between Borivali and Virar, a fourth line between Kalyan and Asangaon, third and fourth line between Kalyan and Badlapur, segregation of long-distance and suburban trains at Kalyan Yard, Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology and procurement of 191 AC local trains, the official said. However, two of the most prestigious projects – the fast elevated CSMT-Panvel corridor and a new suburban corridor between Panvel and Virar were not approved by the committee. Commenting on this, the MRVC official said that these two projects will be tabled before the committee, for reconsideration.

Every day about eight million people travel in the suburban sections, in more than 3,000 train services. There is severe overcrowding in the suburban trains and during peak hours, passengers carried are more than four times the carrying capacity. Chief spokesperson of the MRVC, Anil Kumar Pitke, said, “Once the projects get executed, it will not only immensely benefit the passengers of Mumbai but also those from Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts.” The projects are likely to take five years to complete, he said.

Budget 2019: Rs 584 crores allocated to Mumbai Urban Transport Project

Several key railway projects in the Mumbai region are likely to be expedited, with the union budget making sufficient provisions for the megapolis, railway officials have assured

February 4, 2019: The interim budget 2019 has made a provision of Rs 584 crores, for various phases of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). The interim budget presented by finance minister Piyush Goyal, has allotted Rs 7,672 crores for the Central Railway in total, of which Rs 744 crores are for various transport projects. It will cover the Belapur-Seawood-Uran railway line project in the Mumbai region.

For the Western Railway, the budget has proposed allocation of Rs 6,128 crores, to execute various existing projects. For Mumbai, these projects include the construction of a second terminal at suburban Jogeshwari, bringing in 15-car local rakes and improvements in passenger amenities. Mumbai is the headquarters of the Central Railway and Western Railway. Railway projects in the city are executed by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), a joint venture of the Railway Ministry and the Maharashtra government.

“We have got Rs 584 crores, to execute projects under the MUTP phase 2, phase 3 and phase 3A. The same amount will be contributed by the state government, which means we will be getting Rs 1,168 crores. This much funds are quite adequate for us,” said the chairman and managing director of MRVC, RS Khurana.

Major projects under the MUTP-3A include the fast elevated corridor between CSMT Mumbai-Panvel, a new suburban corridor between Panvel-Virar, extension of the Harbour Line from Goregaon to Borivali, construction of a fifth and sixth line between Borivali and Virar, a fourth line between Kalyan and Asangaon and a third and fourth line between Kalyan and Badlapur.

Khurana said Rs 50 crores have been allocated for MUTP 3A, which means the state government will also provide Rs 50 crores and a total of Rs 100 crores will be available. “All these projects of MUTP-3A are under final consideration, for sanction. As soon we get the sanction, the work will start,” Khurana said.

CR officials also expressed hope that they will not face a fund crunch. Chief PRO of Central Railway Sunil Udasi said, “Like the past few years, we have got sufficient allocations. We will continue executing various projects as per target.” Western Railway chief spokesperson Ravinder Bhakar said, “With the funds earmarked, we will be able to carry out different works, such those related to track renewal, bridge safety, integrated security system, signalling and telecommunication.”

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