Indian Railways has come under heavy fire from the country’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for the excessive delays in finishing the fifth and sixth rail line projects between Kurla and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). Even after 17 years, the project, which was first approved in 2008, is still unfinished, which raises severe questions about interagency collaboration, planning, and implementation.
Originally intended to enhance the operational efficiency of Central Railway (CR) by separating suburban and long-distance train movements, the project has now been split into two phases: Kurla to Parel (Phase 1) and Parel to CSMT (Phase 2). Despite this restructuring, progress remains dismal.
According to the CAG report, the Baseline Socio-Economic (BSE) survey for Phase 1 was not completed even 11 years after its initiation in September 2012. The failure to rehabilitate Project Affected Persons (PAPs) has significantly hindered progress, with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) yet to complete the designated housing units at Nahur as of January 2024. This stalled the much-needed land acquisition process.
Coordination issues between railway zones also contributed to the delay. A request made by Central Railway to Western Railway for land transfer in December 2015 remained unaddressed as of early 2024. These administrative inefficiencies led to the project’s deadline being extended from March 2021 to March 2024, and another extension now appears likely.
Financially, the audit revealed that Rs 500.93 crore, or 56.22% of the approved Rs 890.89 crore budget (as per the 2014 estimate), had been spent by January 2024, while only 26% of the physical work had been completed. Central Railway officials have now pegged the revised cost of the project at Rs 1,337 crore.
The report also pointed to flawed planning by M/s RITES, which prepared inaccurate cost estimates. It cited non-compliance with codal provisions, lack of coordination with the state government, and negligence in adhering to Railway Board directives, especially regarding land acquisition minimisation. As a result, land needs were overestimated, compounding delays.
Further complicating matters, essential materials for electrical, signal, and telecom works were found lying idle at various depots since the contracts were awarded before site readiness, showcasing poor project planning.
Despite these obstacles, the Kurla to Parel (Phase 1) stretch is gradually showing signs of improvement, with additional groundwork progressing and land purchase almost finished. It is anticipated that this 10.1-kilometer portion will be finished before the 7.4-kilometer Parel to CSMT (Phase 2) section. The project’s major objective is still to separate long-distance and suburban train traffic in order to improve capacity and punctuality on the Central Railway network, which presently runs six lines up to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT).
Source: The Free Press Journal
