WR's 6th line in limbo

Western Railway’s plan to segregate mail and express traffic from suburban trains to increase the number of local services is still on paper. Not a single kilometre of the sixth line between Mumbai Central and Borivli has been laid. To add to the difficulties, the cost of the project-—supposed to have been completed in 2012-13—has doubled from Rs.522 crore to Rs.1,049 crore.
Once the sixth line is completed, two lines each will be used for slow locals, fast locals and long-distance trains. This will help increase local services by 30%. The frequency of long-distance trains, too, will increase. At present, about 100 mail and express trains originate and terminate at WR’s stations in Mumbai.
The project is being funded by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTPII). The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is bearing 50% of the cost of executing the rail component of MUTP-II, has conveyed to MRVC officials that it will not allow the sixth line to be laid at a revised cost.
Sources said the railway board had called a meeting of senior WR officials as the revised cost is very high. WR officials have agreed to submit a fresh estimate to the MRVC.
An MRVC official said, “The revised cost was so high partly because of inflation and also due to the inclusion of some works not originally part of the project.” Such works include roofing at Churchgate station and signalling along the tracks.
The estimate of Central Railway for the laying of fifth and sixth lines between CST and Kurla has also increased from Rs.659 crore to Rs.924 crore. But an MRVC official said that this was because of inflationary pressures and hence justified.