MMRDA region transport projects Mumbai and its surrounding, also called Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is a bustling financial hub. Suburban trains that run from Panvel, Virar, Karjat-Kasara to South Mumbai are lifelines of the city. However, on two days (14-15 September 2015) due to derailment in western part of the city’s railway line, suburbs trains came to a standstill and lakhs of commuters were stranded. As trains stopped on the western railway line, citizens hit roads to reach home. This further worsened the traffic leading to traffic jams that lasted for more than four hours.

This entire episode exposed the limitations of the transportation infrastructure of the city and brought the question of ‘inadequate transport infrastructure of the city’ to the surface. Does that mean that there is no improvement in the lives of the ordinary men who travel to city in the morning and go back home in the evening? One need not be so pessimistic about the issue. There are many transportation projects for MMR that are the on the drawing board and have seen slow implementation. However, with the strong political mandate, Devendra Fadanavis led BJP-Shivsena government is well positioned to better the city infrastructure. Here is a low-down on this:

One can expect a better performance from this government due to the improvement it brought to the city in the form of 53 flyovers in its earlier sting in the early 1990s. Indians are known as greater planners and poor implementers. This government has inherited big plans on the drawing board from their predecessors and now it has been implement it. Let us look at some of the projects that have the potential to smartly do away with the city’s traffic snarls.

Projects The state government envisaged a comprehensive railway and roads network plan. This plan is expected to improve the traffic of the city by leaps and bounds if implemented according to their schedule say experts. Here is a list of crucial rail projects which have been completed and which are part completed:

Monorail

Much celebrated monorail project has been delayed, like any other infrastructure project in India. The first phase was opened from Chembur to Wadala in 2014. The second phase will connect Wadala to Curry Road – Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk. While the first phase covers the distance of 8.93 KM, the second phase covers 11.2 KM. Once the monorail is completed, it would act as a connecting link between western-central line and harbour line of suburban train. Today there is no direct efficient public transport connectivity between these areas. The second phase was supposed to be operational by December 2015. However, the deadline may be not be adhered to and as per revised estimates it may be operational around May 2016. There is another monorail project approved by the MMRDA and by the state authorities. It plans to connect Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan belt. This project is at the drawing board stage.

Mumbai MetroThe biggest success with public transport systems in Mumbai is seen by Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro. This elevated corridor of 11.4 KM has made daily travelling a pleasant experience for almost 6 lakh commuters so far. It connects eastern suburbs with western suburbs. Next metro project planned connects Dahisar-Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd and has been sent to the state government for final approval. This will connect a distance of 40 KM. The approvals should be in soon and the same should enter tendering process soon. Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro project too has entered tendering process soon. There are two more metro projects that are at early stage of planning. These two, Dahisar-Andheri and BKC-Mankhurd are expected to reduce the pressure on the road transport. Estimated cost of the metro projects in Mumbai is approximately around Rs 65000 crore.

Another project of Wadala-Ghatkopar-Teen Hath Naka (Thane) – Kasarwadavli is also planned and at various approval stage. All these projects if implemented over next three-four years can connect suburbs with the city and offer better connectivity between Thane and Mumbai. Though these are high impact public transport projects that are aimed at offering convenient and comfortable travel to passengers, these may take long time to implement. Hence, the government has been working on many projects that are expected to come on line sooner.

Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)

Mumbai Urban Transport Project is one such attempt that has immense benefits for commuters both from eastern and western suburbs. As a part of this project, Jogeshwari Vikroli Link Road and Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) are already operational. Traffic on this route is not dense. However, the next step of MUTP is more important and will offer a lot of respite to the commuters. Though SCLR earned the reputation of the most delayed infrastructure project in the world, it became operational after a delay of 11 years. Benefits have been seen immediately. MUTP has several such small and big projects that are delayed and new government along with local authorities should ensure that these projects are completed sooner. The first phase of the project had focus on both road and railways. Though most of the road projects in the first phase have been completed but the railway projects are running behind the schedule.

Road Ahead

Dinesh Trivedi, former Railway Minister had to face a lot of flak in the media when he announced completion of railway projects in MUTP phase one. Some projects are still pending. For example, line 5 & 6 between Kurla and Kalyan. These lines need to be completed between Thane and Diva. At present goods and country-bound trains run between Kalyan -Diva and Thane-Kurla on line 5&6. Lines need to be erected between Diva and Thane. The State government is seen working hard on this major gap. Its work was stuck for two years and the new government has taken it up on priority in CY2015 and aim to complete in first half of CY2016. Once implemented and stabilized this should improve the train transport on central line of railways.

Government and railway authorities are working on many other medium term projects. These include introducing new racks on trains. This will not only offer comfortable journey to the commuters but also improve the safety of train travel and facilitate improvements in the speed of suburban trains. Harbour line of central railway is yet to see any new rack. The railways has almost completed conversion from Direct Current (DC) to Alternate Current (AC). This should be a precursor to introduction of high quality new trains on suburban infrastructure. There is an air-conditioned train planned on the suburban lines from January 2015. More comfortable, safer and faster ride on the suburban train should reduce pressure on the

road as more people will take the public transport leaving their cars at home.

There are also proposals to allow transport of passengers on the Khopoli-Panvel route. Once this goes operational in first half of the CY2016, it will reduce a lot of pressure on the Kalyan-Thane local trains and trans-harbour railway line. On trans-harbour railway line, there is a proposal to start Kalyan-Vashi and Kalyan Panvel trains. This will further make it a comfortable journey for at least 5 lakh passengers a day.

Besides trains, the state government has focus to connect MMR with the main city by road. Connecting places like Dombivli with Thane through Bhiwandi is one such game changing project as Dombivli is well connected to Kalyan-Navi Mumbai-Panvel. This project should be operational in the first half of CY2016 and should work as a connecting point between western suburbs and Navi Mumbai. Four lane Kalyan Shil Road project is delayed and there is little scope left due to large townships coming up on Kalyan Shil Road. However, the new government has been quick to accelerate the widening of Khopoli-Karjat-Badlapur-Dombivli road which works as an alternative to the Mumbai-Pune expressway in heavy traffic. This should further improve the connectivity to proposed airport near Navi Mumbai.

Virar is another booming end of Mumbai and MMRDA has already acknowledged the potential. Virar Alibaug Multimodal transport corridor was an ambitious step in that direction. However, due to paucity of funds and lack of clarity on commercial viability, the project did not take step. The new government however has taken a wise stand by starting with relatively less capital intensive road network programme and has provided for other high capital intensive transportation solutions such as metro. Panvel-Alibaug belt can be the next growth driver creating job opportunities where people in MMR can work and reduce pressure on the southern and central part of the city. Sewri-Nhava Sheva Trans Harbour Sealink however, has taken a back seat given high capital commitments.

These projects are well thought out and as discussed above are at various stage of implementation. With the new government and a new Chief Minister at the helm, there is a high possibility that these projects will be executed according to the development plan, if not earlier. Capital paucity has been the

real worrying factor along with clearances from various central government authorities. However, with the change in sentiment towards India, there are many foreign entities willing to fund the infrastructure projects. Also ‘growth first’ agenda of the central government should work in favour of timely completion of these transport infrastructure projects. It is time to be hopeful as the State government along with other agencies is making the right move and is functioning in a much transparent manner.