Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided a detailed update on Thursday (August 29) regarding the extensive railway development and projects underway in Maharashtra. Speaking on the investments and projects, Vaishnaw highlighted that the state has seen the establishment of 132 Amrit stations with a total investment of Rs 6,411 crore.
Additionally, a large sum of funds are being allocated for key projects, including Rs 33,160 crore for the bullet train initiative and Rs 12,697 crore for the freight corridor. The railway minister also informed that in Mumbai and its vicinity, several major infrastructure projects are either planned or underway.
CSMT to Kurla 5th, 6th line project
Among these is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Kurla 5th and 6th line project, covering a distance of 17.5 kilometers with an investment of Rs 891 crore. The initial phase, extending from Paral to Kurla, is set to be completed by the end of next year.
Panvel-Karjat Suburban Corridor
One of the notable projects is the 29.6-kilometer Panvel-Karjat Suburban Corridor, being developed at a cost of Rs 2,782 crore, where tunneling and bridge construction are currently in progress. The minister emphasised that the completion of these 12 ongoing infrastructure projects will significantly enhance Mumbai’s suburban train network. This development, with a total investment of Rs 16,240 crore, is expected to provide substantial relief and improvements for Mumbai’s commuters.
41 railway projects worth Rs 81,580 crore underway
Vaishnaw also informed that a total of 41 railway projects, worth Rs 81,580 crore, are currently being executed in Maharashtra. Over the past decade, the state has seen the construction of 1,830 kilometers of new railway tracks, surpassing the entire railway network of Sri Lanka.
Other projects include Mumbai Central-Borivali 6th line (Rs 919 crore), and the extension of the Harbour Line from Goregaon to Borivali (Rs 826 crore). Additional initiatives encompass the Borivali-Virar 5th and 6th line (Rs 2,184 crore), Virar-Dahanu 3rd and 4th line (Rs 3,587 crore), and several others totaling significant investments.
Vaishnaw also mentioned that 318 railway flyovers and underpasses are under construction in Maharashtra at a cost of Rs 5,600 crore.