Mumbai rail passengers will see travel times between the Chhtraphati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Panvel cut by more than half in 2019, with the opening of a new 51 km elevated corridor.
The Maharashtra state government is working with Indian Railways to decongest suburban railway services by developing three elevated rail corridors connecting Mumbai and adjoining areas, including Churchgate-Virar and Panvel-Virar.
The new link will reduce the travel time between CST and Panvel from 80 minutes to just 35 minutes.
The techno-economic feasibility study for the CST-Panvel corridor has been completed by the Rail India Technical and Economic Services Limited (RITES) and is scheduled to be completed by 2019.
The project is expected to cost $2.8 billion.
The frequency of train services is estimated at 4.5-5 minutes and minimum 14 services per hour, operating at a maximum speed of 110Â kmph.
RITES in its report has said the elevated corridor will stop at only 10 stations, selected according to their importance or the availability of interchange facility through suburban, metro or mono networks.
Stations suggested by the report include CST, Wadala Road, Kurla, Mankurd, Vashi CBD Belapur and Panvel.
The central government’s planning commission will be funding 20 per cent of the CST-Panvel corridors as viability gap funding and the project will be executed by Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) in association with the state government through a public private partnership (PPP).
The corridor will use the latest electric multiple units and will be fully air conditioned.
The route will provide rail connectivity between south Mumbai and the planned Navi Mumbai international airport.
