News Brief
Mumbai local train
As part of a series of major infrastructure decisions, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday (3 September) approved the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-3B), which involves the construction of 136.65 km of new railway lines at a cost of Rs 14,907.47 crore.
Under MUTP-3B, the Mumbai Railway Development Corporation (MRDC) will build the third and fourth lines between Badlapur and Karjat (32.46 km), the fourth line between Asangaon and Kasara (34.97 km), and a new 69.23 km suburban rail corridor linking Panvel with Vasai.
The project, described as both an “Urgent Public Project” and an “Ambitious Urban Transport Project,” will be jointly funded by the Centre and the state, with Maharashtra bearing half the cost which amounts to Rs 7,453.73 crore.
To mobilise its share, the state government will use 50 per cent of the revenue generated from the commercial development of railway land at Bandra (East) and deposit the remaining amount in the Urban Transport Fund (UTF).
In a parallel move, the Cabinet also cleared Rs 4,826 crore for the purchase of 238 air-conditioned suburban trains under MUTP Phase-3 and 3A.
These will be funded entirely by the Railways and the state government, without resorting to external loans. Maharashtra will contribute Rs 2,413 crore, with approval from the Railway Board pending.