Maharashtra puts elevated railway corridors on fast track

The Maharashtra government is looking to speed up the implementation of the elevated railway corridor on the Churchgate-Virar and CST-Panvel corridors as well as the local train line improving east-west connectivity between Virar and Panvel.

In order to make sure the projects are put on the fast track, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday chaired a meeting at Sahyadri guesthouse with senior railway officials and Planning Commission officials.

It was decided at the meeting that a high level committee comprising senior officials will be created to oversee the speedy implementation of the rail projects.

Central Railway General Manager Subodh Jain made a presentation of the elevated railway corridor between Oval Maidan-Virar and CST-Panvel and explained the benefits of the same to CM.

The issue of land reclamation for the project including shifting of underground utilities and getting finance for the project from the state government was also discussed in the meeting.

The Rs 21,000 crore planned Virar-Oval Maidan elevated rail corridor will have 26 stations, stretching along 62.26 km. The trains, running at a top speed of 100 kph, are expected to carry 90,000 passengers every hour in each direction. It is expected that the elevated corridor project will completed by 2020.
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