25.11.08

Navi Mumbai shuns suburban railway for metro

The Metro rail in Navi Mumbai will come up at the cost of suburban railway network as the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has asked the Central Railway (CR) to stop work on Nerul-Belapur- Seawood-Uran project in the region.The CIDCO has asked Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) to make a master plan for the Metro rail for this route. And due to the development, the CIDCO and the CR seem to be at loggerheads and the fate of the project has become uncertain.“Due to slow speed of the project, the scenario in the area has changed extremely. Now an airport is coming up in this area, and new malls and other commercial projects are also being made. So, there was a need to take a refresh look. The CIDCO has asked DMRC to make a master plan for Navi Mumbai. Once we get the master plan, we will decide what we have to choose — the Railway or Metro,” said a CIDCO official.Mohan Ninave, assistant public relation officer (PRO) of CIDCO confirmed this, saying, “Now everything is on paper. So, it is difficult to say anything now. But CIDCO is planning for Metro.” Reason behind the dispute was the increased cost of the Nerul-Belapur project which was sanctioned in 1996-97. While the initially cost of the project was Rs 595 crore, Rs 126 crore had been spent already till March 2008. Due to slow speed of the project, the cost increased to Rs 1,300.In August, Chief Managing Director (CMD) of the CIDCO, in a letter to General Manager CR, mentioned that during the discussions with the Railway officials, it is observed that CR official are not willing to share increased cost of the project. So, the Railway is advised not to take up any new work on the project till the CIDCO explore the possibility of alternative arrangements. In it’s reply in October 2008, the railway headquarter wrote letter to CIDCO CMD, saying the Railway has not shown unwillingness to do this project but it will not share the cost on CIDCO’s special components like lavish buildings, huge malls which the corporation wants for commercial exploitation. The Railway will share the cost only on components related to operation and related to passenger amenity.
Like always, 2/3 of the project cost is shared by CIDCO while 1/3 was spent the Railway.
“CIDCO’s logo says - We makes cities, but the fact is that if tracks were not laid by the Railway, building Navi Mumbai was not possible. It seems CIDCO wants to separate from heritage railways and accept modern look Metro,” said a CR official.
When contacted S Mudgerikar, chief PRO, CR said, “Slow speed of the project was due to land acquisition process of the CIDCO. Whatever land it gave, the Railway worked on that. Now CIDCO asked the Railway to stop work further, so we have stopped the work. We do not know what they are doing. If they will ask to start the work, Railway will do.”

1 comment:

vaibhav said...

Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik Inaugurates Kalamboli to Vashi Pipelines work

The first glimpses of the water promise made by Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik could be seen coming seen coming true as he performed the inaugural ceremony of the Kalamboli to Vashi water pipeline work. The Minister welcomed the role of the media for making work happen efficiently on the occasion.
For those who were praying that the city be given relief from the weekend water crisis – there is good news. The Kalamboli to Vashi section of the Kalamboli to Digha pipeline work was officially made functional in a small ceremony at the hands of Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik. He said that Morbe Dam became an example in the state assembly and in the coming few months, not only will the dam supply water to residents 24 X 7 but will also generate revenue by sale of excess water. The Minister especially appreciated the role of the media in bringing up issues of the people to the forefront that helped make a system function better...

http://ganeshnaik-navimumbai.blogspot.com/2009/01/relief-at-last-guardian-minister-ganesh.html

http://ganeshnaik-navimumbai.blogspot.com