Port trust nod for CST-Panvel high-speed railway line, but with a rider

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) has given in-principle approval for the CST-Panvel high-speed corridor on its land on the condition that the railways build a station there. MbPT chairman Sanjay Bhatia said, “We have given in-principle approval on the condition that a railway station be built here for commuters who will visit the area after it is redeveloped with promenades, landscaping and entertainment and leisure activities.” The master plan for the port land redevelopment project is still on the drawing board.
“We do not mind adding more stations if its serves MbPT’s purpose,” said Prabhat Sahai, managing director, Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC). The agency has planned 11 stations on the 47-km railway corridor. The Rs 15,000-crore project is crucial to reduce the burden on the saturated Harbour line corridor, which only has slow lines.
MRVC has also changed the alignment for the CST-Panvel fast corridor. “We now plan to build the corridor along Mansion Road instead of P D’Mello Road till Reay Road,” said an MRVC official. The agency feels that it will be easier to execute the project via Mansion Road as it sees less traffic compared to PD’Mello Road and even the relief and rehabilitation work will be easier on Mansion Road.
The detailed project report on the new alignment is being prepared. “From CST (near platform no. 18), the alignment will pass via Mansion Road, enter railway land at Reay Road and then follow the existing alignment till Mankhurd,” said the official. The corridor will be elevated up to Kurla and move on the ground level from Mankhurd. As suggested by Cidco, the corridor will be built along Palm Beach Road.
The CST-Panvel fast corridor is expected to have 21,000 peak hour-peak direction trips by 2019 and 39,000 by 2031. MRVC expects 30% shift from the suburban line and 20% from road traffic once operations begin on the corridor.