The estimated cost of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train is Rs 216 crore per km, while that of the Bandra-Virar elevated corridor is Rs 464 crore per km. Also, the cost of CSMT-Panvel corridor per km estimated at Rs 302 crore.
Union Railway minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday questioned the need for spending Rs 28,500 crore to run the AC trains on the ambitious Bandra-Virar and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus-Panvel Elevated rail corridors. The minister also directed the railway officials here to revise the plan and roll non-AC trains the project.
The minister is expected to meet the Western Railway, Central Railway and Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation officials on October 4 along with the Urban Development Department to chalk out plans for the two elevated projects. The plans for the corridors have been drawn and redrawn for more than 6-7 years now until this route was frozen.
The estimated cost of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train is Rs 216 crore per km, while that of the Bandra-Virar elevated corridor is Rs 464 crore per km. Also, the cost of CSMT-Panvel corridor per km estimated at Rs 302 crore.
"The minister was of the view that an alternate option for travel in the suburban system was needed. A simple elevated rail suffices, which could be completed at a cheaper rate and finished faster," said a senior railway official who was present at the meeting.
The cost of Bandra-Virar elevated rail is around Rs 16300 crore, while that of the CSMT-Panvel elevated route is Rs 12200 crore. According to sources, Goyal also asked the officials to cut the cost of the two projects by one-third. It was difficult for the private companies to invest as the estimated cost of the project was very high, sources added.
The minister also added that when the metros had AC coaches, there was hardly any need to built AC coaches for the railways to built AC coaches.
Off track
The plans for the corridors have been drawn and redrawn for over 6-7 years now.
Goyal also asked the officials to cut the cost of the two projects by one-third.
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