The new alignment of the elevated fast line from CST to Panvel between Vashi and Belapur via the Palm Beach Road, will actually help Railways to save Rs 200 crore, in comparison with above ground or underground options, city railway officials said. The total cost of the project is Rs 11,000 crore.
A railway official, on the condition of anonymity, said that the old plan for the elevated line — which entails building the project either underground or over the Vashi to Belapur stretch — would have cost even more compared to the new alignment. “The Vashi to Belapur stretch was important as Vashi is the gateway to Navi Mumbai. The stations here are huge structures and we would have to spend at least Rs 200 of the Rs 11,000 crore in utilities for it. Connecting cables would have to be unearthed and integrated into the elevated corridor.”
Officials said that there would be no such issues on the Palm Beach Road, which has enough space for the pillars and tracks to be built. This will also go well with the City Industrial Development Corporation’s (CIDCO) own plan of the Belapur to Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) Metro.
Railway officials plan to align their corridor with the Metro in such a way that both modes of transport will converge at Belapur Junction, located right next to the new Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) office. “You can imagine how with the amount of connectivity given to the commuter, people from airport can catch the metro, alight at Belapur and then catch the fast corridor towards Kurla. The entire journey will be in -conditioned with only one interchanging point and without the hassle of road transport,” added the official.
Officials said that the Rs 200 crore saved might be diverted internally to cope with costs that keep rising every year.
