Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved 65 railway infrastructure projects under the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MahaRail) and issued directions to accelerate efforts aimed at eliminating railway level crossings across the state, according to a PTI report.
The decision was taken during a MahaRail review meeting on Monday, where the Chief Minister emphasised the need to strengthen rail-linked infrastructure by constructing railway overbridges, underpasses, and pedestrian crossings. He said these upgrades are essential to enhance commuter safety, improve connectivity, and ease traffic congestion in urban and semi-urban areas.
An official statement noted that the 65 approved works represent the first phase of a broader plan that includes 131 railway infrastructure projects. These developments will be executed across roads under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department and the Urban Development Department.
Fadnavis directed officials to prioritise locations with heavy traffic density and minimal land acquisition challenges to ensure faster execution. He specifically asked that priority be given to sites where Train Vehicle Units (TVU) range between 25,000 and one lakh.
TVU is a metric used by Indian Railways to assess traffic intensity at level crossings, factoring in both train frequency and road vehicle movement over a 24-hour period.
The government’s broader objective is to phase out high-traffic level crossings and improve road safety for both motorists and pedestrians. A total of 80 railway infrastructure projects have been proposed across major urban centres in the state.
Of these, 17 are planned in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), 15 in Pune, 13 in Nagpur, five each in Nashik and Amravati, with the remaining projects distributed across other regions.
Fadnavis also called for long-term planning around railway corridors in rapidly growing urban areas. He instructed district collectors and municipal commissioners to form local committees to vet project proposals before approval, aiming to improve coordination between local bodies and MahaRail.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister raised concerns over possible congestion at junctions linked to newly constructed flyovers in Nagpur and urged pre-emptive planning to avoid bottlenecks.
He also directed the replacement of an ageing railway overbridge on the Amravati–Badnera route to improve structural safety and traffic movement.
On the financial side, Fadnavis asked officials to explore funding support from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and work towards reducing borrowing costs. He also pushed for faster administrative integration of MahaRail under the Public Works Department and stressed timely payments for completed works.
Public Works Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale joined the meeting virtually, while Minister of State Indranil Naik and MLA Prasad Lad were present in person.
Source: Mid-day
