Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), India

Mumbai (Bombay) has seen its population rocket over the past 30 years. As a result, its urban transport network is in drastic need of overhaul. Mumbai Railways Vikas Corporation (MRVC), which is responsible for the city’s railways, is therefore considering extensions to several railways.

The alterations being proposed include: extensive additions to the railway tracks, renovation of the old tracks (such as replacing wooden sleepers with concrete sleepers), and new railway stations (including the extension of ticketing offices, passenger access facilities and railway platforms). The rail lines affected include: the 5^th and 6^th lines between Kurla and Thane, the 5^th line between Santacruz and Borivli, the 6^th line between Santacruz and Borivli, additional lines between Borivli and Bhayander, additional lines between Bhayander and Virar, a fifth line between Kurla and CSTM, and the Bandra Kurla link. There are also a number of other urban transport improvements not directly related to the suburban railways.

MUMBAI INTEGRATED RAIL AND ROAD PLANS

The pressure on the Mumbai rail system is all the worse because the population growth has been concentrated in the suburbs. This means that the rail network has to cope with increasing numbers of commuters. The dominant feature of commuter movements in Mumbai is the overwhelming dependence of the travelling public on the suburban railway services of two zonal railways, the Western railway and the Central railway. As much as 73% of passenger kilometres are covered by the suburban railway system as compared to the 27% of bus and 20% of private vehicles and taxis.

To improve the transport situation, the Mumbai Urban Transport Project has been outlined as an integrated rail and road project and includes significant suburban rail and road investment. A number of system improvement projects have been outlined and will be executed in two phases. These are the rail improvement phase and the non-rail improvement phase.

MUMBAI RAILWAY VIKAS CORPORATION (MRVC)

Due to the magnitude of the project and the need for continuous involvement, assistance and involvement of the Government of Maharashtra, a separate corporation, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation, has been set up jointly between the Ministry of Railways and the Government of Maharashtra. The corporation comes under the Ministry of Railways and will be responsible for executing 14 rail infrastructure development projects. The corporation will also be engaged in planning and development of the Mumbai Suburban rail services.

IMPROVEMENTS TO RAIL TRACK

The Central and Western railways are both adopting improved track structure in the form of long welded track on 60kg rails and concrete sleepers with density of 1,660 sleepers/km and 250mm ballast cushions. The majority of the old track with wooden sleepers has been renewed with concrete sleepers. The replacement of all of the wooden sleepers with concrete sleeper turnouts with CMS crossings is expected to be completed by 2005 to 2006. The rails require renewal every eight to ten years due to the heavy wear and HH rails are being used for replacements on the suburban sections.

MUTP RAILWAY STATIONS

The majority of the 51 stations on the suburban system have become inadequate to meet with the growing demands of passenger movements inside and in the surrounding areas. Due to the growth in population, the stations have faced similar growth in the numbers using them. The stations have remained more or less the same in their size and capacity to allow smooth movements of passengers, which has increased to over 40,000 passengers per hour in peak periods. This is one of the factors that limits the headway between trains. The ticket offices are now inadequate to meet with the rush in peak hours.

The majority of the 51 stations will require additional or lengthening of platforms to allow for the introduction of 12 carriage trains in place of the 8 carriage trains that are currently used. Improvements are to be simultaneously planned for passenger access facilities and fences to minimise trespassing.

MUMBAI URBAN TRANSPORT PROJECT (MUTP) FINANCING

The funding for the Mumbai Urban Transport Project will come from the Government of Maharashtra, the Federal Government, the railways and the World Bank providing 50% of the funds needed.

PRELIMINARY STUDIES FOR THE MUTP

SPARC has been awarded the contract for preparing the Baseline Socio-Economic Survey (BSES) and the Resettlement action Plan (RAPs) for the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) living along the railway track. SPARC has been appointed to carry out thirteen rail and one road sub-project under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project.

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