With the Central Railway (CR) considering digging beneath the city to construct its fifth and sixth rail corridors between Parel/Currey Road and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai may soon see the installation of its first underground suburban railway line.
Phase 2 of a wider expansion project along the Kurla-Parel-CSMT route includes the underground segment. Land acquisition and rehabilitating impacted individuals are two of the biggest challenges for large-scale infrastructure projects like this one. The railway authorities think that digging beneath will be a more effective approach to prevent these issues. This strategy is based on the Mumbai Metro’s underground lines, which have successfully overcome comparable obstacles.
Additionally, this subterranean section would be constructed at a depth of 20 to 25 meters, just beneath the current railway tracks. In order to make the idea more viable, the route is being constructed to avoid existing subterranean utilities, roads, and buildings. The plan is not yet complete. Despite several talks between Central Railway and the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), no definitive plan has been finalised. Comprehensive technical feasibility studies are the following phase.
A senior railway official stated, “We are currently preparing the terms of reference and will appoint a consultant soon.”
Source: News 18
