Railways change tracks on elevated rail project

Owing to high budget cost and technical changes, Indian Railways has modified its proposal for the Rs 22,500-crore Churchgate-Virar Elevated Rail Corridor project. After several bidders said that the project cost is very high, Indian Railways and the state government also said that they would fund a part of the project. The project so far has six private bidders.

The fresh proposal with modifications is expected to come in by October this year and it may see the same bidders, and some new names as well. Of the modifications to the proposal, the biggest comes in the form of the project's financial viability. The railways will be funding about 10 per cent of the project or Rs 3,000 crore through the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC).

Apart from the financial aspect of the project, the railways has changed some technical specifications including realignment of the stations, which means that eight stations will be underground as compared to five earlier.

Sources in the Railway Board said that there are more technical changes due to geographical considerations and availability of land. "We have now planned the project on standard gauge, it was to be built on broad gauge earlier. Also, changes to the station alignment would mean that the elevated and underground portions would also be different," said a senior railway official.

The revised plan
BEFORE
Proposed corridor: Oval Maidan-Virar Elevated Corridor: 63.268 km

It would pass through Churchgate, Charni Road, Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Lower Parel, Elphinstone Road, Dadar, Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Santacruz, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivli, Borivli, Dahisar, Bhayandar, Naigaon, Vasai Road and Nalasopara

Of these 26 stations, 5 stations would be underground, 19 elevated and 2 on surface

AFTER
Proposed corridor:u00a0Oval Maidan-Virar Elevated Corridor: 60.3 km

It will pass through Churchgate, Charni Road, Mumbai Central, Lower Parel, Elphinstone Road, Dadar, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Bandra Terminus, Santacruz, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivli, Borivli, Dahisar, Bhayandar, Naigaon, Vasai Road and Nalasopara

Of the 24 stations, eight stations would be underground, 13 elevated and three on surfaceu00a0